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3 minute read
5/9/2017 | 03:03pmAccording to reports in The Sun, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will look to sign Real Madrid star Gareth Bale next summer as he looks to add a world class winger to his squad.What’s the word, then?Well, The Sun says that Mourinho was keen to bring the 28-year-old to Old Trafford during the summer transfer window, but the Champions League holders told them that he was not for sale.The Portuguese boss was desperate to add a wide man to his squad before the window slammed shut on Thursday night, but he also had to give up on a deal for Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic when the Serie A giants changed their asking price during negotiations.The Sun adds that while Real didn’t want to sell Bale this year, they indicated that a deal could be done in 2018 as they would be willing to consider a huge bid.With Isco currently in top form and Marco Asensio coming through the ranks, the La Liga outfit are certainly well stocked in attacking positions.Why does Mourinho want Bale?Following a tough start to life with Tottenham Hotspur, the Welshman quickly established himself as not only one of the best players in the Premier League, but also in the world during his time with Spurs.He scored 21 goals in 33 English top flight appearances in his final season at White Hart Lane before completing a then world-record move to Real Madrid, where has netted 55 goals in 102 La Liga outings.An influential performer and leader, the Wales captain has also netted 26 goals in 62 appearances for his country and was one of the main catalysts behind their progress to the semi-finals of the 2016 European Championships in France.Would he be a good signing for United?He would be a huge addition for the Red Devils.The 28-year-old has pace, is effective when dribbling and is a potent finisher. However, he also offers a lot more and is strong and decent in the air, as well as being versatile enough to play in a variety of attacking positions.While he would undoubtedly come at a big price as his contract doesn’t run out until 2022, he could prove to be the difference if United are to become the top force in the Premier League and Europe in the future.

1 minute read
4/9/2017 | 06:54amIsco was the hero for Spain as they moved a step closer to sealing their spot at the 2018 World Cup with a 3-0 victory against Italy on Saturday, and his performance certainly didn’t go unnoticed by Manchester United fans.The 25-year-old was handed a more advanced role as manager Julen Lopetegui decided to start with an out-and-out striker on the pitch, and the move paid off as the Real Madrid man scored a first-half brace.His first goal was a magnificent free-kick that beat Gianluigi Buffon in the Italy goal, before he added a second five minutes before the interval with a shot from outside the penalty area.Man United supporters were certainly impressed with what they saw and took to social media to give their thoughts on the playmaker’s performance, and many want the club to target Isco over another Real star in Gareth Bale.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…If I could sign one player for my club regardless of position and system, I'd undoubtedly get Isco. What a technically strong player #MUFC— Rishabh (@rishabh0607) September 3, 2017Just saw the highlights of that game and #Isco performance. 😱What a player! Forget Bale…If I was #mufc, I'd break the bank to sign him! https://t.co/6DuEMj3B2N— Avinash (@anjelus_28) September 3, 2017We need to get Agent Juan, Agent Andre and Agent De Gea to work and get Isco to #MUFC 🔥👀— RYAN 🇾🇪 (@rymozza_) September 2, 2017#MUFC didn't sign Isco because his head is big 🤔 !!!— Fred (@FredyTheRed) September 2, 2017Isco is the main man. He's the most id want from the Madrid team #mufc— T_bag_Mufc (@Jose_un1t3d) September 2, 2017Bale should have left for United. No way is he making into the starting 11 with Isco in this form. #mufc— SAMI (@sameerrashid_) September 2, 2017Isco was 10/10 last night. Not a step wrong.— The United Link 🏆 (@TheUnitedLink) September 3, 2017

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4/9/2017 | 06:13amReal Madrid playmaker Isco was the hero for Spain as they beat Italy 3-0 in their crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier on Saturday, and his performance didn’t go unnoticed by Chelsea fans.The 25-year-old was given a more attacking role as Julen Lopetegui opted to start the match without a recognised striker, and he certainly didn’t let his manager down.The Spaniard fired a brilliant free-kick past Gianluigi Buffon in the 13th minute before adding a second from outside the penalty area five minutes before the interval to send his nation on the way to a comfortable win.Isco has struggled to break into the Real first team under Zinedine Zidane, but there are already signs that could change this season – especially after his latest two-goal salvo for his country.Nevertheless, Chelsea supporters were quick to have their say on the showing via social media, and many would love to see the 25-year-old in a Blues shirt, preferably playing alongside Eden Hazard.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…What a shame Chelsea lost the chance to sign Isco a few seasons ago. Would have been a star for us #CFC— Thea (@tmac19971) September 3, 2017What I'd give to make Isco a blue. #CFC— Demarquis McIntyre (@DemarquisMcInty) September 2, 2017Isco has a good game against Verratti and he's suddenly the best thing since sliced bread. Fooball Twitter is so impulsive.— Dami (@TheChelseaWay) September 3, 2017oh how id love isco so much at chelsea what a man— 💙 (@Hazuayi) September 3, 2017Would love to see Isco and Hazard play together someday, the football would be out of this world!— ChelseaDaily (@Chelsea20126) September 2, 2017Sooner Chelsea buys Isco, the better.— ♘ Kaiser ♘ (@JoeyKaiZer) September 2, 2017The things I'd do to have Isco at Chelsea 🤤— Jack ✌️ (@RamboMorgan) September 2, 2017

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4/9/2017 | 05:53amReal Madrid playmaker Isco was the star of the show for Spain as they closed in on automatic qualification for the 2018 World Cup with a 3-0 win against Italy on Saturday, and his showing certainly didn’t go unnoticed by Arsenal fans.The 2010 world champions lined up without a recognised striker and the 25-year-old was given a more attacking role as a result, and he certainly didn’t let his nation down by scoring a brace as well as proving to be a constant menace for the likes of Marco Verratti.He curled a brilliant free-kick beyond Gianluigi Buffon in the opposition goal in the 13th minute before he doubled Spain’s advantage five minutes before half-time with another strike from outside the penalty area.Arsenal supporters were quick to have their say on Isco’s performance via social media, and many believe that he would be the ideal successor to Santi Cazorla when the Spaniard moves on.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…An ambitious board at Arsenal would've bid for Isco, when they just had him sitting on the bench like a sideman— It's A Lot 🇯🇲🇮🇳 (@KingKongCourts) September 3, 2017Was hoping that we would somehow lowkey wind up with Isco at Arsenal but after recent perfermances, forget about it. £150m at least— Hobo_Hustle (@Hobo_Hustle) September 3, 2017Isco is what Arsenal fans think Ramsey is— Tobiloba (@KingYormidey) September 3, 2017Would take isco over ozil & ramsey all day long— THE ARSENAL CIRCUS (@DazAuto15) September 3, 2017We should have signed Isco while he was at Malaga— Speedy (@MiaSanArsenal) September 3, 2017Isco is a brilliant replacement for Cazorla. Needs to come Arsenal— Serdz (@_serdz) September 3, 2017Isco is the perfect replacement for Santi Carzola. #Arsenal— King Xhaka-Laka-Boom (@Eternal_Gooner) September 2, 2017

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3/9/2017 | 03:47pmManchester United announced on their official website on Saturday that young midfielder Andreas Pereira had joined Valencia on loan after signing a contract extension,but it is a decision that has baffled their fans.The 21-year-old was an impressive performer for the Red Devils during pre-season and his performances obviously haven’t gone unnoticed by the club after they extended his current deal until 2019, with the option of a further year.However, the Brazilian will now spend the current campaign on loan with the La Liga outfit rather than staking his claim for a spot in the starting line-up for Jose Mourinho’s side this term.Man United supporters were quick to have their say on the double announcement via social media, and while they were pleased that he looks set to stay at Old Trafford for at least another couple of years, others were confused by the decision to send him out on loan.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…What a joke— Oliver Riley (@OllRiley_) September 2, 2017Wrong decision …— Jamal Kamal (@jamal_kamal_) September 2, 2017You'll regret this— HERRERA IS ANDERATED (@GABBYR0CKS) September 2, 2017Gutted! Hes gonna give up on us soon!— ●DMC● (@DMUFC58) September 2, 2017Makes me feel a bit better— Lydie (@NyiraLydieMUFC) September 2, 2017Thats some good news at least 😁😁😁— Keiron Gibbons (@Keiron_Gibbons) September 2, 2017Great news!— Anagat (@zlatanagat) September 2, 2017he is better than @JesseLingard— Avinash Singh (@Avinash54336604) September 2, 2017

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3/9/2017 | 03:23pmReal Madrid attacking midfielder Isco played a starring role as Spain beat Italy 3-0 in their latest World Cup qualifier on Saturday, and Liverpool fans believe he could be a potential replacement for Philippe Coutinho in the future.Once again playing without a recognised striker, the 25-year-old started in a more advanced role for the 2010 world champions and he made a huge impression by curling a free-kick beyond Gianluigi Buffon in the 13th minute.Things were to get even better for the playmaker five minutes before the interval when he once again scored from outside the penalty area, while he also proved to be a constant menace to Italy midfielder Marco Verratti throughout the match.Coutinho was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona during the summer transfer window and saw a transfer request rejected, but Liverpool supporters believe that Isco should replace him if he goes in the future following his dazzling display for Spain.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…If Real come calling for Coutinho, I'd trade him for Isco.Who's with me? #LFC https://t.co/pdGO7FGYAV— LiverpoolAllDay (@LiverpoolAllDay) September 3, 2017We should have signed Isco. #LFC— Jide✌ (@hevel09) September 2, 2017Dear Klopp, Isco for coutinho next summer come on reds #LFC— Gerald (@oldGHANAempire) September 2, 2017#Isco is such a majestic player. To think only an injury to Bale and Ronaldo have him a place in the team. #LFC should have had him ages ago— Ad Ikram (@darr_a) September 2, 2017Just imagine if Liverpool managed to get their hands on Isco before. Now that's a £200m player.— جاحنزيب (@Jzb06) September 2, 2017Liverpool please just pay up for Isco as an eventual replacement for Coutinho— Ryan Jon Tarrant (@ryan__tarrant) September 2, 2017If Liverpool looking for Coutinho replacement, Isco is the man. Magical— Bayazidbahar (@bayazidbahar) September 2, 2017Isco reminds me so much of @LuchoGarcia14 . Nimble footed— Liverpool Plus (@LiverpoolPlus) September 3, 2017

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29/8/2017 | 11:03pmNeymar has told Brazil teammate Philippe Coutinho that he will not regret Liverpool’s decision to keep Barcelona at bay, according to Estadao.What’s the word?The Catalan giants have been chasing Coutinho all summer, and it has been widely reported that the playmaker is keen to move to the Camp Nou.Earlier this month, The Guardian reported that Coutinho had handed in a transfer request, but so far, Liverpool have stood firm in their stance that he is not for sale.Barcelona have failed to persuade the Reds to discuss a deal after having three bids rejected, the most recent of which the Daily Mail reports was worth £114m.The former Inter Milan star, who is currently on international duty with Brazil, has reportedly been warned off a move to Barcelona by none other than the club’s former player Neymar.According to Brazilian newspaper Estadao, the 25-year-old has told Coutinho that “he won’t regret Liverpool’s decision to keep him away from Barcelona”.Neymar’s relationship with Barca, where he played for four years, has turned sour since he completed a world-record £198m move to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this summer.Could this make a difference?It is known to be a usual tactic of Barcelona to have their key players speak publicly about transfer targets in a bid to help their cause in trying to sign them.On this occasion, Neymar – albeit no longer a Barcelona player – has done the opposite.If Coutinho regards his fellow countryman as a good friend, then the 25-year-old’s words could make a difference in whether or not he continues pushing for a move to Spain.With the window closing in just two days’ time, it seems more and more likely that the playmaker will be forced to stay at Liverpool.Neymar’s reassurance, though, could help Coutinho adapt his outlook and accept the fact that he may have to remain at Anfield for at least another season.

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28/8/2017 | 01:03pmWhen the transfer window is in full flow, shock rumours can emerge, and given that the market is closed for business from this Thursday, the surprising stories are being churned out at a pace.According to Spanish publication Don Balon, the European heavyweights are eyeing Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford as a star for the future.The 19-year-old has already become a fully-fledged first-team player at Old Trafford, despite his young age.Rashford made 32 appearances in the Premier League last season, 16 of which were starts, and he scored five goals and produced one assist.In the current campaign, the forward has featured in all three of the club’s league games so far, creating an assist in the Red Devils 4-0 rout over West Ham United and scoring in Saturday’s 2-0 triumph over Leicester City.Don Balon claims that Barcelona are keen for Rashford to eventually replace Luis Suarez, but they may be forced to spend around £185m to prise him away from Old Trafford.After the speculation emerged in the gossip pages, United fans took to Twitter to give their reactions.In their dreams😤— #I'm MAN UNITED (@Kweku_Paroni) August 28, 2017No— ruth arie (@rut_arie) August 28, 2017Ok. I want my own planet.— ⚫️⚪️🔴Wojtek 🇪🇺 (@Unitedsince1995) August 28, 2017Ok 😂😂😂— Craig Henniker (@craigybott) August 28, 2017lol— Russ (@russnewsham) August 28, 2017@Barcelona hold it right there.no amount of money can make we sell@Rashford cus we have what's it's take to keep our best players.— Kendrick d one (@MondehAugustine) August 28, 2017Barcelona want Rashford, pay £300m then— Nick Morris (@Nickmorris69) August 28, 2017Sell the Nou Camp and u still can't afford him— United20times (@busbyway20) August 28, 2017

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25/8/2017 | 02:55pmAll eyes were on the Champions League draw on Thursday, and the main talking point from the event was the group that Tottenham Hotspur were placed in.Last season’s Premier League runners-up will have to take on Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Apoel in order to make it through to the knockout rounds.Mauricio Pochettino’s side were arguably handed the toughest draw out of the English clubs competing, which also include Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United.The glamour tie is of course the one against Madrid, which will involve a trip to the Bernabeu for Tottenham and a hosting job at Wembley, where the North London outfit will be playing all of their home games this season.Micky Hazard, who represented Spurs between 1993 and 1995, pointed out that former Tottenham players Gareth Bale and Luka Modric are likely to play.The latter was sold to the Spanish club in 2012 following a four-year spell at White Hart Lane, while Bale joined Tottenham for a then world-record £85m fee a year later.Both have gone on to have stunning success in Madrid, and Hazard is excited to see the stars line up against their former club.The 57-year-old amusingly tweeted that Tottenham will be able to have the players back for free.Modric and Bale back at Spurs and no fee lol— Micky Hazard (@1MickyHazard) August 24, 2017

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25/8/2017 | 02:25pmPeter Crouch’s funny side has become evident since he joined Twitter, and he gave quite the humorous reaction to Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League draw.The North London outfit were arguably placed in the hardest group of the elite competition, with Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Apoel.Last season, Mauricio Pochettino’s men failed to get out of the group stage when they were pitted against Monaco, CSKA Moscow and Bayer Leverkusen.They performed poorly at Wembley, winning just one of their three games at the national stadium, where they will be based for the entire season while their new stadium is being built.In the 2010-11 season when Crouch was playing for the North London outfit, Spurs suffered a damaging defeat to Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the competition.After going a goal down inside the first five minutes, the striker was sent off 10 minutes later after receiving two yellow cards for poor tackles.The team – managed by Harry Redknapp – failed to recover and they eventually lost 4-0 to the Spanish giants in the first leg.After Crouch, who now plays for Stoke City, discovered who Spurs would be facing this season, he decided to poke fun at his past.Real Madrid for spurs . If they don't have an idiot sent off early they have a great chance— Peter Crouch (@petercrouch) August 24, 2017

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9/9/2017 | 06:59amManchester United manager Jose Mourinho says he is disappointed that Andreas Pereira decided to join Valencia last week, and Red Devils fans now fear for the youngster’s future.The 21-year-old was an impressive performer for United during pre-season, and he seemed set to remain at Old Trafford until January at the earliest.However, he didn’t feature in any of the club’s four matchday squads in August and decided to secure a move away in order to play regularly.Mourinho told the Manchester Evening News: “Andreas Pereira was a personal decision that I don’t agree with.“A decision I don’t think honestly I don’t think is the best decision for him, a decision that disappoints me a little bit, because I think he has the potential to be here fighting for a position, for opportunities, and fighting to be a Manchester United player.”Man United supporters were quick to have their say on Mourinho’s comments via social media, and some believe that his Red Devils career may now be over.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…No chance he will be recalled he will be sold if anything mufc career is over— wayne littlewood (@waynelittlewoo2) September 8, 2017Curtains— Phillip Mehegan (@prmehegan) September 8, 2017Great comments, I hope the boy takes them onboard and shows mental strength when he eventually comes back. Could be a januzaj tipping point— kelbo (@the_kelbo) September 8, 2017Dont think its over for him but if he really wants to succeed at United then he must show more openness to fight for his place in the squad.— Milad (@MiladST) September 8, 2017Both r right if the situation seen from both angles, but personally I had a hope that he will fight for a position & show his true colours.— Maithem (@maithem7) September 8, 2017Mourinho ripping Pereira for deciding to leave is hilarious. A fantastic player who hasn't even made the bench for 4 straight games! #MUFC— Basel Arti (@Aritonian) September 8, 2017How Mourinho speaks about Pereira just shows how highly he rates him. Future star #mufc— 🔴🔴Shiv🔴🔴 (@GunmanRashford) September 8, 2017I think it's all over for Andreas Pereira at United. We have to resign to the fact he is moving on. Wishing him the best #mufc #Pereira— Deepan Chakravarthy (@bhoovi) September 8, 2017That's Pereira's United career over before it's even started! 🙈 #MUFC #bigmistake— Craig Bolton (@CraigBolt200) September 8, 2017

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9/9/2017 | 07:40amLiverpool manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed in his pre-match press conference for his side’s clash against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday that Philippe Coutinho will be omitted from the squad.Jürgen Klopp confirms Philippe Coutinho will not be included in the matchday squad to face Manchester City. pic.twitter.com/lZGilb7Iyk— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 8, 2017The 25-year-old was recovering from injury when he handed in a transfer request just days before the Premier League season started last month after Barcelona showed an interest in him, and the La Liga giants had three offers for the Reds star rejected.However, the attacking midfielder returned to action for Brazil with two substitute appearances during the international break but despite that, Klopp isn’t ready to include him for the clash against Pep Guardiola’s men.Klopp said: “I decided to leave him out of the squad for City so we can use the time for extra training. He agreed.”Liverpool supporters were quick to have their say on the news via social media, and they are largely divided with some saying it is the “right decision” and others feeling it might prove to be a mistake to not include him in the squad.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…Good decision..no point disrupting the current rhythm of the team and dropping players in form. He'll earn his place for sure IMHO— Prinz (@WeArePrinz) September 8, 2017The right decision.— tony nevitt (@tonynevitt) September 8, 2017Not sure this is a good idea. Especially if we're trying to win the game and looking for something special from the bench.— Steve Heighway (@Mywayorthe) September 8, 2017He should be. Still one of their best players and you need your best players for the big games.— Richard kemp (@RCKempy) September 8, 2017Very pleased with how Klopp is dealing with him.— G (@G_uhyeah) September 8, 2017It's a smart decision by Klopp to leave Coutinho out. I think he will make his comeback with 50,000 #LFC fans supporting him at Anfield!— LFC-TM (@Its_all_left) September 8, 2017still suffering with that back pain caused by anxiety is it hahaha,hope he never plays for us again!— Breff (@Breff91) September 8, 2017

Arsenal have long been attributed with an interest in Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and a move could materialise next summer, according to Spanish outlet Don Balon.What’s the story?Although not the most reliable of reports, Don Balon’s claim that Florentino Perez will use his authority at Real Madrid next summer to reshape Zinedine Zidane’s squad is certainly possible and a new-look side could be created.Karim Benzema, now 29, could find himself on the way out as Real Madrid consider options to rejuvenate their forward line, with their list of targets including Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann and Juventus’ Argentine sensation Paulo Dybala.With Marco Asensio and Isco stepping-up to become crucial players for Real Madrid over the course of the past 12 months, the reliability on the likes of Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale has significantly decreased- which could lead to changes.Bale has himself struggled with regular injury problems and could be sold to provide funds for a move next summer, whilst Benzema will likely seek an exit as he won’t want to play second-fiddle and Real Madrid would accept his wishes after years of service that has seen him lift 14 titles in the Santiago Bernabeu.Is there still a place at Arsenal?Whilst some may feel the ship has sailed for Benzema and Arsenal due to the summer signing of Alexandre Lacazette, the Gunners still have a desire to rejuvenate their attacking options- especially as it’s highly likely Alexis Sanchez will leave next summer.Benzema could therefore slot into Arsenal’s line-up as the first-choice striker, with Lacazette dropping behind his compatriot and playing alongside World Cup winner Mesut Ozil- assuming the former Real Madrid man pens a new deal.Former Lyon man Benzema will turn 31 in December next year, so cannot be seen as a long-term solution for Arsenal, but they may need to strengthen their ranks as Olivier Giroud, who turns 31 this month, may bring an end to his time in North London.The striker was offered the chance to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer but elected to stay and fight for his spot in the side, scoring a dramatic winner on the opening weekend victory over Leicester City, but has found first-team opportunities limited since.

Liverpool face a major battle on their hands if they are to lure Timo Werner to the Premier League from RB Leipzig next summer, according to reports cited by TalkSport.What’s the story?Seemingly not content with landing Naby Keita from the Bundesliga’s breakthrough side last season, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are ready to raid RB Leipzig once again for the services of Timo Werner next summer following the German international’s meteoric rise.The 21-year-old forward has netted 24 goals in 34 league matches for RB Leipzig so far and has also made a major impact on the international stage, finding the back of the net six times in eight matches after making his debut for Joachim Lowe’s side earlier this year.Naturally, that’s led to a wealth of interest in the young striker’s services and Sport 1 state Real Madrid have joined Liverpool in the hunt for the forward who’s widely regarded to be one of the best up-and-coming striking talents in European football.Where would he fit?Liverpool’s attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane is one of the best in the Premier League but one downfall is the lack of a recognised central striker, which is why reports consistently link Timo Werner with a switch to Anfield.Whether he’d be a guaranteed starter is debatable though as the aforementioned trio have proved to be extremely valuable to Jurgen Klopp’s side this season, so Werner may remarkably have a better chance of securing regular football at Real Madrid.With Karim Benzema turning 30 this year, chairman Florentino Perez is keen to rejuvenate Real Madrid’s attack with the addition of a young striker and Werner is reportedly on their short-list, with Spanish outlet Don Balon claiming Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann and Juventus’ Paulo Dybala are also being tracked.Liverpool could have the financial firepower to compete with Real Madrid in the market if Barcelona succeed with a move for Philippe Coutinho next summer but RB Leipzig are determined not to sell, as they see Werner as an integral part of their side.

It’s been a long summer for Diego Costa but his transfer limbo looks set to end with an exit from Chelsea, according to Spanish outlet Marca.What’s the story?Shortly after winning the Premier League with Chelsea last season, Blues boss Antonio Conte informed the Spanish striker he was surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and the signing of Alvaro Morata was the final nail in the coffin.Named in the Blues’ Champions League squad, having failed to secure an exit during the summer, it seemed Costa could have an opportunity at redemption in West London. However, it now seems any appearances will simply be a final swan-song for the controversial striker.Marca state Atletico Madrid have reached an agreement with Chelsea to bring the striker back to Diego Simeone’s side in the January transfer window, where the La Liga giants will see their transfer embargo come to an end.The move comes as no surprise as The Sun reported earlier this week that Costa has sent his family back to the Spanish capital ahead of his return to La Liga, though it remains to be seen how much football he’ll receive at Stamford Bridge in the meantime.Risky move by Chelsea?Britain Football Soccer – Chelsea v Southampton – Premier League – Stamford Bridge – 25/4/17 Chelsea manager Antonio Conte celebrates after the match with Diego Costa Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.Chelsea have been heavily reliant on Diego Costa in recent years but seem uninterested in having two top-class strikers battling for a spot at Stamford Bridge, with Michy Batshuayi, a player yet to find his feet in the Premier League, playing understudy to the Blues’ record-signing Morata.A return to Madrid for Costa was always the likely outcome and it’s a big step for Diego Simeone’s side too, as they move to their new stadium, as it means they have a direct replacement for Antoine Griezmann should the Frenchman be lured elsewhere next summer.Chelsea’s biggest success though is getting £54m in the transfer market for a player they do not want, which is further evidence of the Blues’ strong negotiations skills as they’ve previously got a lot of money for the likes of Oscar and Ramires to China.Whilst the money from the Far East appears to be stagnating, prices in Europe have been on a meteoric rise in recent seasons and Chelsea have once again shown they have the ability to negotiate the best possible deal no matter who they’re negotiating with.

Gareth Bale’s name has regularly been mentioned on the back pages of the tabloids regarding a move to Manchester United but the Welsh sensation has spoken about why he’s stayed in Spain, in an interview with The Daily Mail.What’s the story?Ever since his emergence at Tottenham Hotspur, Gareth Bale has regularly been named by the press as Manchester United’s ‘top-target’ and a move for the wing-wizard to Real Madrid, where he’s since won three Champions League titles, hasn’t quelled the speculation.Rumours rose again this summer following a varied year for Bale, who clinched another Champions League medal but saw his involvement in the glory limited due to consistent injury problems- which led many to speculate he could be surplus to requirements as Isco and Marco Asensio proved their worth.Neymar decided to move on to become the king of Paris, leaving Barcelona, and Bale could have reigned supreme at Old Trafford if he elected to seal a move. However, The Daily Mail mentions in an in-depth interview with the Welsh wizard that an exit was never close.What’s been said?Speaking to The Daily Mail, Bale admitted there’s a theory to becoming the star-man elsewhere but stated he wants to be judged on trophies, indicating that he feels his chances of further success at Real Madrid are superior to what he could achieve with Manchester United.‘Well there’s an argument for that but I think the main thing, when you look back on your career, is that you look at your trophies. In the end that’s probably the most important thing.’Will he ever return?Clearly comfortable in Spain, and now 28, Bale’s preference would clearly be to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu and push towards legendary status with the Spanish giants. Having been part of a squad that’s won three Champions League titles in four years, being an integral part in the victories in 2014 and 2016, it’s certainly a possibility.With Real Madrid regularly linked to big names though, Bale’s position within Zinedine Zidane’s side isn’t perhaps as stable as it would be if he were to move back to the Premier League. However, he does have the benefit of the fact that Karim Benzema seems the most likely to be replaced.Cristiano Ronaldo turns 33 next year and his importance to Real Madrid is already starting to decline, so Bale has the chance to establish himself as Los Blancos’ biggest hero in the coming years- but a return to English football will never be off the cards.

The saga concerning Philippe Coutinho at Liverpool has not been drawn to a close with the end of the transfer window and Barcelona will return for the Brazilian in January, Spanish outlet Sport reports.What’s the story?Having handed in a transfer request this summer and failing to secure a move to Barcelona, who saw numerous bids rejected by Liverpool, Philippe Coutinho seems an unhappy figure on Merseyside but he still has the chance of making his dream move.Sport state the Catalan giants have not ended their pursuit of the Brazilian and will return with a fresh offer in January, with Coutinho yet to feature for Liverpool this season due to a back injury- but he was fit enough to feature and score in his nation’s World Cup qualifying victory over Ecuador.Whilst Liverpool’s resolve has always remained strong on Coutinho, there’s only so far that can go if the South American starlet wants to leave and many believed the Reds were daft this summer for turning down audacious sums of money for the playmaker.Will he stay?Given the series of events concerning Coutinho’s links to Barcelona, it really is a case of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ the Brazilian leaves Liverpool and the danger is that things could start to boil behind the scenes, potentially then causing immense problems behind the scenes.It’s something that Liverpool may not be alone with this year, as Alexis Sanchez at Arsenal and Virgil Van Dijk at Southampton experienced similar, but the resolve of Liverpool to keep Coutinho in January is likely to be a lot stronger than their counterparts.Barcelona also have a record of pulling controversial stunts in their quest to get major deals over the line, including getting star players to speak about a move and forcing a Barcelona shirt on Cesc Fabregas whilst he was on international duty, so it’s unlikely we’re anywhere near the end of this saga.

According to the Daily Star, Manchester United will return to Atletico Madrid with a bid to sign Antoine Griezmann within the next two transfer windows.What’s the Story?Manchester United have set aside £100million and left their number 7 shirt “un-allocated” in preparation for Antoine Griezmann, who they will bid for within the next year, according to the latest report.The Frenchman was the subject of much speculation this summer, with Manchester United seemingly making Griezmann their top target. However, Jose Mourinho’s side failed to land their man and subsequently, he stayed with Atletico Madrid until at least January.With the number 7 shirt currently unoccupied at Old Trafford, rumours are starting to grow as to why this commercially profitable shirt has yet to have an owner this season. And it seems that we may now have an answer.How good was Griezmann last season?Since his phenomenal performances for France at Euro 2016, Antoine Griezmann has been one of the most sought after players in Europe. Last season, the 26-year-old, who is valued at £72million by Transfermarkt hadyet another fantastic domestic campaign.The French international scored 16 times in 36 appearances for Atletico, his second largest single season goal-scoring tally of his career and was a constant threat to opposition with his lightning pace and technical ability.Would Griezmann be a good signing for Manchester United?Absolutely. Manchester United’s bright offensive start to this season demonstrates the talent that they have in their attacking positions. Adding Griezmann to this crop in January or next summer would only improve the balance of the team and could help Manchester United become the dominant European force that they once were.

Diego Costa won’t be remaining at Chelsea until January and will instead move out on-loan before moving to Atletico Madrid in the new year, The Daily Mail reports.What’s the story?Diego Costa’s fall from grace in the eyes of Antonio Conte has been well publicised and the two-time Premier League winner looks set to end his stint with Chelsea imminently, with Spanish outlet AS stating the striker has returned to Spain and will stay there until his future is resolved.The signing of Alvaro Morata in the summer has reiterated Chelsea’s view that Costa is surplus to requirements and he’s hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge, leaving compatriot Costa out of the frame despite his fellow striker being named in Chelsea’s first-team squad for the first-half of the season.That suggested that Diego Costa could still play a part in Chelsea’s campaign over the course of the coming months before returning to Atletico Madrid in January but The Daily Mail report he could be on his way to Saudi Arabia on-loan instead, joining Al Hilal.Why’s it such a mess?Chelsea really have made a dogs meal out of the situation concerning Diego Costa, which started when Conte decided to inform the Spanish striker that he’s surplus to requirements via text- a precedent for the shambles that followed.Atletico Madrid, handed a transfer ban until 2018, couldn’t finalise a move in the summer window but Costa has refused to return to West London, staying in Brazil before flying his family out to Madrid in the past week- where AS say the striker has now joined them.Both parties are guilty of mismanagement in this situation but it definitely casts a rotten picture of Chelsea, which could prove to be problematic should things go wrong this season- and it may even put players off joining the Premier League champions.

Liverpool’s hopes of retaining Philippe Coutinho’s services beyond the January transfer window have received a huge boost as Barcelona have set their sights elsewhere, according to Sport.What’s the word?The future of Liverpool’s Brazilian starlet Philippe Coutinho was one of the biggest sagas of the summer transfer window and the general expectation was that Barcelona’s crusade to bring the South American to the Nou Camp would commence once again in January.It’s no secret that Coutinho wanted to move to Catalonia but Liverpool held firm with their monstrous demands, aware that Barcelona had plenty of cash to spend after the world-record sale of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain.Whilst speculation persists on Coutinho’s future, Sport reports Barcelona will not return in the new year and will instead set their sights on securing the signature of OGC Nice midfielder Jean-Michel Seri; widely regarded as the ‘new Xavi’.Will Coutinho stay?Whilst this does hand a boost to Liverpool’s attempts to keep Philippe Coutinho for the long-term, it doesn’t necessarily bring an end to the saga. Coutinho made it clear he wanted to leave and could push for an exit next year, particularly after the World Cup.He’ll also be likely to jump ship if Liverpool fail to secure Champions League football again next season, which is a stern test for Jurgen Klopp’s side due to the wealth of competition in the Premier League, and at 25 he may feel it’s time to take the next step.However, the fact that he’s no longer considered their priority target means that Liverpool should have more time to prepare for the Brazilian’s exit- or even persuade the South American starlet to commit his future to the Merseyside outfit and snub a move to La Liga.

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14/9/2017 | 12:00pmLiverpool drew 2-2 with Sevilla in their opening Champions League group game at Anfield on Wednesday night, and Reds fans were furious with defender Dejan Lovren for his latest below-par performance.The centre-back returned to the starting line-up in place of Ragnar Klavan following Jurgen Klopp’s men’s 5-0 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday, but he was at fault for the La Liga outfit’s fifth-minute opener.The Croatia international looked certain to clear Sergio Escudero’s low cross from the left, but he fell over and the ball went under his foot with Wissam Ben Yedder on hand to tap home.The hosts regained control of the game through goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, but the Brazilian missed the chance to give his team a two-goal advantage when he missed a penalty just before the break.Questionable defending from Lovren and centre-back partner Joel Matip saw Joaquin Correa score the equaliser and Liverpool supporters were quick to have their say on the former’s poor performance via social media, with some saying the time is now surely up on his career with the Merseyside outfit.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…No more excuses for Lovren #lfc— Marc Carter-Selwood (@MarcSelwood) September 14, 2017Defensively poor again last night, with Lovren a complete shambles. I can't see a reason why we wouldn't give Gomez a run at CB. #LFC— Remco Buckley (@remcobuckley) September 14, 2017Surely now #Lovren is done in an #LFC shirt? It's too late but enough is enough! #liability #donkey— Karl Henton (@KHenton) September 14, 2017Gomez needs to learn his trade at CB. Klavan isn't good enough to be 3rd choice and Lovren is beyond help. #LFC— Red Rivelino (@RedRivelino) September 14, 2017I really don't see Lovren getting a start again for this club, times up, not good enough. #lfc— * (@AnfieldMagic) September 14, 2017Dejan Lovren is #shocking #LFC— Ian Gibson (@OswestryRunner) September 14, 2017Lovren is Pathetic beyond Words.. #LFC— Sushant Chandekar (@sushantchandekr) September 14, 2017Never criticised Lovren badly but sadly enough, He doesn't deserve to start for a club like #LFC for sure. Diabolical defending @LFC— Kloppo Man (@TheRedOpinion) September 14, 2017Lovren and Henderson need to be binned if we're going to progress and challenge for trophies. Neither of them are good enough #LFC— Yimmy (@YimmyDrisc93) September 14, 2017

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14/9/2017 | 04:42pmLiverpool’s return to the group stages of the Champions League began with a 2-2 draw against Sevilla at Anfield on Wednesday night, and Reds fans were divided on the performance of left-back Alberto Moreno.Despite coming under criticism and finding himself behind James Milner in the pecking order last season, the Spaniard is being given more of a chance in the side by Jurgen Klopp this season and started against his former team on Wednesday.While he perhaps should have done better from a defensive point of view in the fifth minute when Wissam Ben Yedder gave the visitors the lead after being caught on the wrong side of the forward, he did set up Roberto Firmino for the equalising goal just 15 minutes later.The 25-year-old went on to pick up a yellow card for a poor challenge and was unlucky not to score just before the break in what was an eventful first 45 minutes.Liverpool supporters were quick to have their say on Moreno’s showing via social media, and they were divided with their opinions.While some feel that he put in a “top performance”, others described him as a “complete joke”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…Alberto Moreno impressed me the most tonight. He's really taken the criticism constructively and brought his A-game. Brilliant. #LFC— Max Generossi (@MaxiGenerossi) September 13, 2017Love seeing Moreno getting praise like he is right now. Always have hoped he'd turn it around and get fans on his side ☺️🔴⚽️ #LFC— Riz (@Riz_1902_BITW) September 13, 2017Thought Moreno was good tonight credit were it's due and lovren was…….lovren #lfc— Andy Barrett (@andrewbarrett70) September 13, 2017Top performance from Alberto Moreno last night 🙌#LFC #YNWA @lfc18alberto pic.twitter.com/VGUX0dk1xH— The Redmen TV (@TheRedmenTV) September 14, 2017I can not believe what I am reading from last nights game… Moreno had a good game ???? 😂😂😂😂 wtf !!!!! The guy is a complete joke 💩 #lfc— Les Riches (@SoireeLes) September 14, 2017I must have been watching a different Moreno last night. Fine going forward. Defensively shambolic…— Matt (@mattlfc6) September 14, 2017Moreno doesn't even know he's a defender. He should be replaced #LFC— Pedro J. Salazar C. (@ppedrossalazar) September 13, 2017I personally don't care what Moreno offers going forward. First and foremost, he is a LB, thus he should be able to defend. He can't! #LFC https://t.co/8lA8jmFoNf— Terence Ramsay (@TerenceRamsay) September 13, 2017Alberto Moreno is the epitome of Klopp's #LFC: manic, unpredictable, erratic & reckless. An attacking force and a defensive liability.— Dale (@dalewetter) September 13, 2017

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29/9/2017 | 02:00pmEverton could make a move for Atletico Madrid striker Kevin Gameiro when the transfer window reopens in January, according to The Mirror.What’s the word?The Merseyside outfit are in desperate need of some firepower up front having scored just four Premier League goals in six matches.Sandro Ramirez was bought in the summer to help the team’s goal threat, but he is yet to find the back of the net.Towards the closing stages of the transfer window, manager Ronald Koeman was rumoured to be hunting for a new striker, but he failed to get a deal over the line.Now, The Mirror claims that the Dutchman could make a £20m move for Gameiro, who is likely to drop down the pecking order due to Diego Costa’s arrival.Is Gameiro the right man?There is always an element of risk bringing in a player who does not have any Premier League experience, but Gameiro has shown in the past that he can be prolific.In his final season at Sevilla before joining Atletico in 2016, the 30-year-old scored 16 La Liga goals and produced four assists.For Atletico, Gameiro had a positive debut campaign, finding the back of the net 12 times and assisting five goals, but he has only made two substitute appearances so far this season.Everton were always going to struggle to replace Romelu Lukaku, so rather than depend on one man, the team need a handful of players to produce goals.If Gameiro comes through the door and former outcast Oumar Niasse stays consistent, then the pair could share the burden.

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28/9/2017 | 04:44pmChelsea pulled off a hugely impressive 2-1 win away against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night, but Blues fans weren’t impressed with the performance from midfielder Cesc Fabregas.The La Liga giants were hosting their first European game at their new Wanda Metropolitano home when Antonio Conte’s men came to town, and they looked to be on course to pick up three points when Antoine Griezmann’s penalty gave them a half-time lead.However, the visitors hit back after the break and Alvaro Morata’s header on the hour-mark was followed by a last-gasp winner from Michy Batshuayi, with Fabregas – who started in a more advanced position with Tiemoue Bakayoko and N’Golo Kante in the middle of the park – missing a sitter from six yards just after Morata found the net.Chelsea supporters were quick to have their say on his showing via social media, and while some described it as “awful”, others said it was a “shocking performance”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…fabregas has been awful today #cfc— ifty (@iiftyyy) September 27, 2017Fabregas has been unusually poor this game #cfc— Ben Stephens (@Sparkey63Ben) September 27, 2017As I say that, here comes Christensen for Fabregas.Not at his best tonight Cesc. Still did a job though. #CFC #ATLCHE— Lav (@ConteTactics) September 27, 2017Breath breath……..yes we won and best performance of season and this despite pretty weak games from Fabregas and Bakayoko #CFC— Justin Scarborough (@justinscarboro2) September 27, 2017For the whole of the game only Fabregas wasn't at his best.. #cfc— yo p! 💙🔵 (@iampeedeeterry) September 27, 2017Fabregas has been well off the pace tonight… #ATLCHE #CFC #ChampionsLeague— Stefan Hodge (@stefan_hodge) September 27, 2017Fabregas has had a shocking performance, let alone that finish. #CFC— Chelsea Central (@ChelseaCentral_) September 27, 2017Fabregas having a real poor game till now. That’s a concern. #CFC— Souradip (@souradip23) September 27, 2017Cesc needs to improve ffs #CFC— Abz 🥊⚽️ (@abzcfc98) September 27, 2017you didn't play well bro. Hope to see a better performance against city if selected. C'mon chelsea— Mubaraq (@mbijaiya) September 27, 2017

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28/9/2017 | 02:40pmTottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane has been the talk of the football sphere these last couple of days following his goalscoring performance in the Champions League.The England international netted a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over APOEL on Tuesday night, which ensured that the club continue their winning run in the competition.Kane has proven season by season that he is one of the best forwards in the Premier League having won back-to-back Golden Boot awards, but now that he is showing it on the European stage, people are beginning to discuss whether he can be considered among football’s elite.So far in 2017, the 24-year-old has scored six hat-tricks, which is four more than Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Real Madrid hero Cristiano Ronaldo have recorded, with both nabbing two hat-tricks.Kane also leads the scoring charts in the Champions League with five goals in total, with Messi on two and Ronaldo on four.Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has done little to quieten the comparisons by claiming that Kane is as important to the North London outfit as Messi and Ronaldo are to their clubs.talkSPORT quotes the French goalkeeper as saying:“In every big team you have a big goalscorer. In Tottenham it is Harry Kane. I think for him he has got a lot of things to prove in the Champions League. He shows his quality and skills at the moment. Five goals in two games is fantastic and hopefully he will carry on in the same way for him and the team. We are not surprised about Harry, we know his talent, his skills, his aptitude to score goals and important goals. He is our main player, like in top teams, in Real Madrid you have Ronaldo, in Barca you have Messi.”

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28/9/2017 | 11:20amTottenham Hotspur will have to take on Real Madrid, Liverpool and Arsenal for the signature of Borussia Dortmund star Christian Pulisic, according to Transfermarketweb.What’s the word?The USA international has caught the eye of many since breaking into Dortmund’s first team last year.Despite being just 19 years of age, the attacking player has become a regular figure, making 64 appearances in total, scoring 10 times and creating 14 assists.Transfermarketweb reports that Pulisic, who has 16 international caps to his name, is a target for Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal and Real Madrid.The teenager’s current contract at the Westfalenstadion does not expire until 2020.Do Tottenham have a chance?Given Mauricio Pochettino’s proven track record of developing young players, the North London club would be a suitable destination for Pulisic.If the midfielder does decide to move on from Dortmund, then he will need to think of progression rather than choosing the biggest club.Moving to Madrid would be a huge risk as he is unlikely to be handed regular playing time and if he does not hit the ground running, he could end up fading away.Tottenham would be able to offer more first-team football, as well as guidance to help develop Pulisic’s game.However, if Arsenal and Liverpool are also sniffing around, then Pochettino will need to do what he can to convince the USA midfielder to choose Spurs.

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28/9/2017 | 07:22am
According to reports on talkSPORT, Southampton have been alerted to the fact that out-of-favour Barcelona striker Paco Alcacer wants to leave the club during the January transfer window.TalkSPORT says that Saints were keen on signing the 24-year-old during the summer, but Barca obviously looked to keep the Spain international after selling Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain, while the player himself would have been keen to prove himself at the Camp Nou having only joined from Valencia in 2016.However, those regular first team minutes haven’t been forthcoming under Ernesto Valverde this term and Alcacer could now look to leave the Catalan giants in the New Year.Meanwhile, Saints’ goalscoring issues from last season have continued into this one under Mauricio Pellegrino and they have now failed to score in 10 of their last 14 top flight matches, and it could mean that the Argentine looks to strengthen his attacking options when the window reopens in 2018.Here are three reasons Southampton must make Alcacer their top January target…

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27/9/2017 | 04:45pmAccording to reports in The Mirror, Everton could make a January move for £20m-rated Atletico Madrid forward Kevin Gameiro after summer transfer target Diego Costa returned to his former club from Chelsea.What’s the word, then?Well, The Mirror says that the Frenchman could be surplus to requirements after Atletico agreed terms with the Premier League holders to bring Costa back to Spain earlier this month.The Mirror says that the £67m deal means that the La Liga giants may be forced to balance the books in the New Year, and that could mean they look to offload Gameiro, who has found game time hard to come by.The report adds that Everton have been sounded out about his potential availability, with the Merseyside failing to sign the direct Romelu Lukaku replacement that manager Ronald Koeman wanted during the summer transfer window.The Mirror says that Atletico would be willing to loan him out for the remainder of the campaign or negotiate a £20m permanent deal.How has Gameiro done at Atletico?While the 30-year-old was something of a key first team player under Diego Simeone in his first season when he ended the 2016/17 campaign with 16 goals and a further seven assists in 46 appearances in all competitions, but he has found it more difficult to get time on the pitch this term.The French attacker has played in just 27 minutes of Atletico’s opening six La Liga fixtures of the season, while he was left out of the squad altogether for the Champions League clash against AS Roma a fortnight ago.Would he be a good signing for Everton?It’s difficult to say.While the 30-year-old has done well for Atletico when played as a centre-forward, he is certainly more in the mould of Sergio Aguero than Lukaku from a physical point of view and couldn’t be seen as a direct replacement for the big Belgian.That said, his record for Sevilla and Atletico in La Liga has certainly been impressive and he has shown that he can find the net on a regular basis.One concern for the Toffees though would be how Sandro Ramirez – who also impressed in Spain for Malaga last season – has so far struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League and they could easily find themselves in a similar situation if they brought Gameiro to Goodison Park.

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27/9/2017 | 07:15amTottenham Hotspur fans are feeling very confident about the team’s progression into the knockout rounds of the Champions League following back-to-back wins.The North London outfit were arguably handed the toughest group of the draw when they were place in a pot alongside defending champions Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and APOEL.A 3-1 victory over Dortmund put Mauricio Pochettino’s men in a strong position after Matchday One, and they followed that up with a 3-0 win over APOEL in Cyprus on Tuesday night.Harry Kane stole the headlines by securing a hat-trick – his sixth in 2017 – and it helped the club move equal with Madrid on six points.Following their last two results in the competition, Tottenham fans are feeling confident that the team can match Real when the pair go head to head.Spurs will be facing their former player Gareth Bale, who scored a wonder-goal in Madrid’s 3-1 win over Dortmund in Germany.Get in!!! He's one of our own! Bring on Real Madrid! ⚽️⚽️⚽️ #COYS https://t.co/8dzzn1vRGW— Jamie Arden (@jampota) September 26, 2017Two teams have 100% records in group H, one is the best team in the world and the other is Real Madrid 😉#thfc #coys pic.twitter.com/bgCVw7Q9f5— KWP (@therealwalker37) September 26, 2017Madrid, watch out, were after you …. #COYS pic.twitter.com/MDyCadtFax— Spurssoko ⚽️ (@TheMacBoy_) September 26, 2017Bring on Real Madrid! #COYS #TTID— kryptokev (@kevinfds) September 26, 2017We're coming for you……we're coming for you! Gareth Bale we're coming for you! Bring on Madrid! #COYS— Dom Coeur-De-Lion (@dom_coeurdelion) September 26, 2017Our fate is in our hands. We can go to Madrid with no fear, nor expectation. Expected to lose but on our day we can beat anyone. #COYS #THFC— Jurts__COYS94 (@THFC_COYS94) September 26, 2017Perfect start to the CL group of death, sets us up nicely for Madrid #COYS— Carlb (@carlbowman) September 26, 2017Well done boys. Bring on Real Madrid. This gonna be good 😃 #COYS— Dele (@zarifhrahman) September 26, 2017

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26/9/2017 | 03:43pmAccording to reports in the Daily Mail, Leeds United are considering making a move for Osasuna midfielder Fran Merida, who like recent addition Samu Saiz is playing in the second tier of Spanish football, after sending scouts to watch the former Arsenal man in action.What’s the word, then?Well, Leeds United may be top of the Championship table on goal difference going into Tuesday night’s fixtures following an impressive start to the campaign, but it hasn’t stopped Thomas Christiansen looking at players that could potentially improve his squad during the January transfer window and beyond.The Daily Mail says that scouts from the Yorkshire outfit have been trailing the 27-year-old, who is in his second season with Osasuna following their relegation from La Liga last term, with a view to making a move for the Spaniard.Merida has certainly had an interesting career having been on the books of Barcelona, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid during his career, but he has failed to settle down at any of those or Braga, Hercules, Atletico Paranaense and Huesca prior to joining Osasuna.How has he done for them?Ok, but not brilliant.Merida, who usually operates as a central or defensive midfielder has made 25 appearances in all competitions since joining Osasuna in the summer of 2016, and he sometimes struggled to make the matchday squad on occasions in La Liga last term.In 15 outings in the Spanish top flight, he did show his ability with the ball at his feet by successfully completing 12 of the 17 take-ons he attempted in what was a disappointing personal campaign for him and the club.Would he be a good signing for Leeds?It’s difficult to say.Saiz has already made a huge impression at Elland Road and while Merida may have struggled to have a huge impact at Osasuna, there is no reason why he couldn’t with Leeds.Of course he already has some experience of English football too from his time with Arsenal, and that would stand him in good stead if he did join the Championship outfit during the January transfer window or elsewhere in the future.That said, the Yorkshire outfit look to be well stocked in the middle of the park right now with Kalvin Phillips, Eunan O’Kane, Ronaldo Vieira and Mateusz Klich, and they also have to start thinking about players that could make the jump up to the Premier League because of their promising start.It’s hard to believe that Merida is good enough to do that, though.

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25/9/2017 | 02:40pmTottenham Hotspur star Dele Alli is being targeted by Real Madrid in a potential swap deal involving Mateo Kovacic, according to Don Balon.What’s the story?It is not the first time that Alli has been linked with a move to Spain due to his significant rise over the past couple of years.The 21-year-old has established himself as a regular for Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham team, as well as for England.Since moving to the North London club from MK Dons in 2015, Alli has scored 35 goals and created 25 assists in 107 appearances.His statistics seem to have attracted the attention of Madrid, who according to Don Balon, are prepared to offer Kovacic in a deal.It is believed that club president Florentino Perez is keen to snatch Alli away in January, but Spurs are unwilling to listen to offers before the end of the season.Should Tottenham consider a deal?Based on statistics alone, no. Kovacic has netted just three goals and racked up five assists in 78 appearances for Madrid since his 2015 switch from Inter Milan.The 23-year-old also plays in a different style to Alli in that he sits in a much deeper role, so it would not be a like-for-like replacement.It is clear that the Tottenham star has not found his best form yet this season following a handful of lacklustre performances.Even during this slight lull, though, Alli has still produced three goals and an assist in seven outings in all competitions.With Tottenham becoming serious challengers for honours, it is vital that Pochettino keeps his best players.

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25/9/2017 | 01:20pmEverton were prepared to pay £70m for Chelsea striker Diego Costa in a late move in the summer transfer window, according to The Mirror.What’s the story?The Merseyside outfit spent more than £100m on a handful of new signings, but they failed to replace Romelu Lukaku, who left to join Manchester United.Wayne Rooney returned to Goodison Park, while Sandro Ramirez was also bought, but it has been widely reported that manager Ronald Koeman wanted another attacking player.The Mirror reports that Everton were willing to pay a staggering £70m for Chelsea misfit Costa, who caused controversy in the summer for refusing to return to Stamford Bridge.The Spain international made it clear that he only wanted to join his former club Atletico Madrid, and eventually his wish was granted.Costa will not be eligible to play for the La Liga club until January, though, due to a transfer embargo that prevents Atletico from registering new players until 2018.What does this bid tell us about Everton?Firstly, that the Toffees certainly have money to spend. The club jumped out of the blocks in the transfer window and were praised for their early business.However, judging by the team’s performances this season so far, they failed to bring in the one player they needed – a striker.The Toffees have won two of their six Premier League matches and in that time have scored just four times.If these latest reports are true, then potentially forking out £70m for Costa so late in the window shows that Koeman was desperate for a new attacker.Ironically, the man who the manager deemed not good enough for the team is showing the most promise up front.Oumar Niasse, who did not even have a squad number at the start of last season, has scored three goals in his last two matches in all competitions.

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4/10/2017 | 09:00amGareth Bale was expected to face his former club Tottenham Hotspur in two weeks’ time when Real Madrid hosted the North London outfit at the Bernabeu.The two clubs will go head to head in the group phase of the Champions League, with both on six points apiece.The build up would have been focused on Bale, but now injury looks set to rule him out of the match.The Guardian reports that the 28-year-old is facing four weeks on the sidelines with a calf injury, which has forced him out of Wales’ two crucial World Cup qualifiers.If Bale is unable to feature against Tottenham, where he spent six years of his career before moving to Madrid for £85m in 2013, then it will be a big boost to Mauricio Pochettino’s side.Spurs were arguably handed the toughest group, but they have already overcome Borussia Dortmund and APOEL.The Premier League club will be underdogs heading into the encounter, but without Bale, Madrid are weaker.After the reports emerged, Tottenham gave their reactions on Twitter.Hope Bale isn't out of our game against Madrid, would love to neither cheer or boo him just to show how irrelevant he is to Spurs these days— Callum Sturt (@CallumSturt94) October 3, 2017@Ben_Farmer16 scared of davies— Ross (@RossiT99) October 3, 2017Now all we need is ronaldo isco asensio modric kroos ramos marcelo carvajal ceballos and casemiro to get injured as well— MR MIYAGI (@mrmiyagi996) October 3, 2017Tbh Aurier on bale was a red waiting to happen.And trippier he’d have breezed past like a paper https://t.co/qLO9U39elo less worry for poch.— TAS🔵⚪️ (@coys100) October 3, 20176 points coming up! #thfc #COYS— Spurslife– (@SomeYoungMin) October 3, 2017A shame, would have loved to have seen him again.— Rob Bettles (@Rob_Bettles26) October 3, 2017Glad, he hasn’t been very nice about us since he left so happy he won’t have an opportunity to play against us— Nick Buckland (@Nick_Buckland) October 3, 2017Mixed emotions on that one.— Tottenham Grammar (@PhilYiddo) October 3, 2017He don’t want to hurt us mate 😉— Austin Nardone (@1Ratchet_rabbit) October 3, 2017

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4/10/2017 | 03:01pmAccording to reports in Spanish publication AS, via Sport Witness, Everton are ‘very interested’ in signing out-of-favour Atletico Madrid striker Kevin Gameiro during the January transfer window, but Toffees fans are divided on a potential deal for a player they were also linked with last month.The report says that the La Liga giants are considering selling the Frenchman and Nicolas Gaitan in the New Year as they look to prepare for the arrival of Diego Costa, and it is news that will have alerted the under-fire Ronald Koeman.The pressure is building on the Dutchman following a disappointing start to the season, and he will be frustrated that the club didn’t sign the Romelu Lukaku replacement he wanted during the summer transfer window.Everton supporters were quick to have their say on the latest rumour via social media, and they were divided with their opinions on the 30-year-old, who has played just 27 minutes of football this season.While some “would love to see this happen”, others believe the 30-year-old is “another second-rate player”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…Is Athletico Madrid’s Kevin Gameiro interested in Everton in January .. I very much doubt it ..— brian anjo (@Brian_Anjo) October 3, 2017Until we sign him I'm not interested. Sick getting our hopes up to be let down— debbie (@debbiewright197) October 3, 2017Can he play number 10?— Mike (@Mike187819) October 3, 2017Would love to see this happen— Mark Doughty (@markdoughty88) October 3, 2017Too small to fit our playstyle, will end up like sandro— Joe (@IdrissaMagic) October 3, 2017Don't get carried away he's not doing it there anymore, another second rate player, thought mosh was going for the best, ambition??— kieron hynes (@kieronhynes) October 3, 2017Yes please!— Zachary Robb (@zachary_robb) October 3, 2017Would be a HUGE signing— Garrison Ball (@FIRECBJ) October 3, 2017Too little, too late.— Craig Rimmer (@_cr_90) October 3, 2017

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4/10/2017 | 04:45pmAccording to reports on Transfermarketweb, Tottenham Hotspur are target a January move for out-of-favour Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes, who the Daily Mirror says is rated at £18m.What’s the word, then?Well, Transfermarketweb says that the Portugal international could exit the La Liga giants on loan or even on a permanent deal in the New Year, and while Spurs are keen they could face competition from the likes of Manchester United, Juventus and AS Monaco.Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror reports that the 24-year-old could leave on a loan deal with a view to a permanent £18m move having struggled to get game time under new Barca boss Ernesto Valverde this term.Why do Tottenham want him?While he has struggled to make an impression with Barcelona after competing with the likes of Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic in the middle of the park, Gomes has still shown glimpses of what he is capable of and he was extremely impressive at Valencia beforehand.The Portugal international has featured for just 110 minutes this term, with just 28 of those coming in La Liga, but he is a tall and versatile performer who can play in a variety of midfield roles and that is something that will appeal to Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.Would he be a good signing?Despite struggling to make an impression this season, Gomes did make 47 appearances in all competitions for Barca last term and the fact that he can play in a defensive or central midfield role – or even out wide – mean that he could be an effective performer for Tottenham.According to WhoScored.com, one of his main strengths is his dribbling ability, and his qualities on the ball should mean that he fits effortlessly into the current Spurs side.Considering Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele have struck up such a strong relationship in the middle of the park, it would be difficult to see how Andre Gomes would break that partnership up though, but the competition he would provide would certainly keep all three players at the top of their respective games.What’s the verdict, then?Well, while Gomes could prove to be a bargain buy if he can be purchased for £18m in the current market, the price could mean that Tottenham face a lot of competition for his signature.

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5/10/2017 | 02:30pmTottenham Hotspur are willing to discuss the possibility of a new contract for Harry Kane following reported interest from Real Madrid, according to The Gambling Times.What’s the word?Kane has been hitting the headlines of late for his prolific form, which has seen him score 13 goals for club and country in September alone.The 24-year-old has proven that he can stand out on the European stage as well as domestic by netting a hat-trick – his sixth in 2017 – during a recent victory over APOEL in the Champions League.It seems that Spanish giants Real Madrid have taken note, and according to Don Balon, the club are prepared to splash £177m on the striker.The Gambling Times report that this has caused Tottenham to rethink their position and are even considering opening talks over a new contract with Kane, despite the forward putting pen to paper on a fresh five-year deal just 10 months ago.Will wages be a problem?It is well known now that the North London club pay fairly modest wages compared to the so-called ‘big’ clubs of the Premier League.The London Evening Standard claims that Kane and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris are the highest earners among the Spurs squad on around £100,000 per week.It is highly likely that Madrid would offer a more lucrative salary if Kane was to have his head turned.It is worth stressing that the striker has made no public suggestions that he is considering a move to the Bernabeu, but if it came down to money, then Spurs could have a problem.Chairman Daniel Levy is a shrewd businessman, but he may need to rethink his pay structure in order to keep the club’s best player.Tottenham have an advantage over Madrid in that Kane worked his way through the club’s academy, therefore has an emotional connection to Spurs.However, the hitman is ambitious and no-one could blame him for following in Gareth Bale’s footsteps in search of silverware.

As one of the most in-form players in world football right now, it is no surprise to see Harry Kane’s name being linked with Real Madrid. However, it is the England captain’s latest comments that have seemed to worry some Tottenham fans, who believe he is leaving the door open to a move.Ahead of the Three Lions game against Slovenia, Kane was asked about the Madrid rumours, to which he responded;“I would never say no. I think in football, you never know and you never rule out anything. It is not something that I definitely want to do but it could happen. You just never know.”While it seems unlikely that Kane would walk away from the ongoing project at Tottenham, his quotes may indicate that a call from Real Madrid may prove too hard to resist.Upon hearing the comments, Spurs fans took to Twitter, some of them seemingly very confident, others not so…Stick my neck out, imo Harry Kane will stay at #Spurs for many years to become true legend, breaking appearance & goal records. #COYS #THFC— Alf Love (@alf_love47) October 5, 2017Spurs fans freaking out about Kane 😂😂😂 relax. He is going no where. Trust me #THFC— Trevor Lloyd (@Trevorlloyd92) October 5, 2017Ok so apart from money there is NO REASON for Kane to leave,player said himself he won't leave Tottenham so its all down to Levy if he stays— Abi (@WembleyForTHFC) October 4, 2017If we don't win anything in the next 2/3 seasons Kane will 100% leave and I wouldnt blame him— Cameron (@thfcCam) October 5, 2017If Kane leaves I leave— MasonDee (@MasonDee2419) October 4, 2017I hoped we learned from the sale of Bale. With new stadium and a quality young squad, we should be aiming to bring stars in rather than sell— Archie (@Archie_Tashjian) October 4, 2017

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6/10/2017 | 04:54pmAccording to an interview with Belgian media outlet Derniere Heure, Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen has revealed that he was denied the chance to return to the Premier League with Everton during the summer.What’s the word, then?Well, speaking while on international duty with Belgium, the former Arsenal defender told Derniere Heure that he wanted to leave the Camp Nou during the summer following a season-long loan spell with AS Roma, but the La Liga giants told him he couldn’t leave.The 31-year-old listed the Toffees and Anderlecht as two of the interested clubs, and now he has been left in a situation where he isn’t being picked to play for the first team and isn’t allowed to play for Barcelona B either because he hasn’t been registered, which has left him in the limbo.Everton boss Ronald Koeman had said during the summer that he wanted to bring an experienced left-sided centre-back, who could also cover at left-back, to Goodison Park to cover for the injured Ramiro Funes Mori and it is no surprise that they have been named as one of the teams keen on the Belgian.How did he do during his loan spell with Roma?Having made just 21 appearances in all competitions in his first two seasons with Barcelona because of injury, Vermaelen moved to the Italian capital on loan last term.However, it wasn’t really a fruitful spell as another injury hindered his chances of breaking into the first team and he was often left on the substitutes’ bench.The 31-year-old returned to Spain having made just 12 outings in total, and he would have been keen to secure a permanent move elsewhere.Will Everton still be interested in the New Year?It’s difficult to say.With Funes Mori likely to be out of action until after the January transfer window has closed and with the Toffees struggling at the back in the early stages of the season it could be an option.However, Vermaelen certainly wouldn’t be the younger defender they perhaps need considering they already have Leighton Baines, Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka in the backline, and his lack of game time and injury record would also be a big concern.

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19/10/2017 | 06:00pmThe transfer window may be closed, but that does not stop the rumour mill from churning.A report in Don Balon has claimed that Real Madrid may be open to selling Gareth Bale next summer due to his regular injury woes.The 28-year-old, who is currently out of action, has had eight calf problems during his four-year spell at the Bernabeu and he missed a large chunk of last season.The report adds that Bale’s former club Tottenham Hotspur, as well as Manchester United, could be in for him come the end of the season, but the emotional pull of the North London outfit could be too much for the player to turn down.The attacker spent six years at Spurs, developing into the player that earned a then-world record £85m move to Madrid.Since 2013, Bale has won 10 trophies, including three Champions League crowns, the most recent of which from last season.As expected, Tottenham fans have been digesting the news and there have been mixed responses.@SpursOfficial get the deal in place now for Jan— Marcus Pearce (@Mp10Marco) October 19, 2017Kane – bale – eriksen – Dele in front of the meanest defence in the prem….. game over!!!— ryan ledger (@rynoledge15) October 19, 2017Although if true it shows our rise in status— Bry the Cabbie (@LDNGreenBadge) October 19, 2017Smoke and mirrors for when he goes to Man U so the fans can't be upset at him. He'll blame the clubs not agreeing. Not rocket science here— Bombay (@GordoneBombay) October 19, 2017Bring the homesick boy back Dan— Rhinoceros (@Rrinoceros) October 19, 2017And they would be looking for Kane and Dele in return. We have enough players on treatment table. #COYS #THFC— John Hueston (@johnrhueston) October 19, 2017I must admit I would like 2 c him bk, great signing 4 the new stadium, but he is on like 425K a week……we can't/won't do that— simon young (@rookieyoung1) October 19, 2017What could they possibly want in return, I wonder 🤔— Craig Bradfield (@heisyouknow8) October 19, 2017

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19/10/2017 | 05:45pmReal Madrid star Gareth Bale may consider a return to Tottenham Hotspur next summer, according to Don Balon.What’s the story?The 28-year-old has been linked with a return to the Premier League almost every season since moving to the Bernabeu from Spurs in 2013.On this occasion, Don Balon reports that the Spanish giants are growing weary of the attacker’s injury problems and may decide to offload him next summer.Bale is currently on the sidelines with a calf problem – a similar issue that has blighted him eight times during his four-year spell in Madrid.Manchester United have regularly been linked with a swoop for the Wales international, but now the prospect of a sensational return to North London has been reported.It is believed that Bale could be swayed into re-signing for Spurs over United due to his emotional connection to the club.Should he go back?In many aspects of life, the term ‘never go back’ is a good one to stand by, but from Tottenham’s point of view, having Bale in the team would boost their chances of title glory significantly.In the early stages of the Welshman’s Madrid career there were rumours that he was feeling homesick, so returning to a club that he is very familiar with suggests that he could hit the ground running.Some would question why Bale would even want to go back to Tottenham given that he plays for one of the best clubs in the world and has picked up three Champions League crowns in the last four years.However, it is clear to see that Mauricio Pochettino is transforming Spurs into genuine contenders, and with the new stadium on the horizon, they are beginning to look the part.Given Bale’s link to Tottenham – he spent six years at the club – it may not take much for him to consider moving back, particularly as he will have the chance to potentially spearhead the London outfit to glory.Are there any problems?Yes, money. Bale was sold to Madrid for a then-world record £85m and it is likely that the Spanish giants will be looking to recoup that figure.The attacker’s injury problems could prevent Real from making a profit, but club president Florentino Perez is unlikely to go below the sum that was paid.Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is a shrewd businessman and a stubborn one at that, so if he were to enter negotiations, it could be a long and arduous process.On top of that, the North London club have a very modest wage structure, which they will have to reassess if they want to welcome back Bale.

According to Don Balon, Liverpool wonderkid Ben Woodburn is attracting the interest of Barcelona who may look to sign the Wales international in the next 12 months.What’s the Story?As if Barcelona haven’t caused enough trouble for Liverpool already! Now, Spanish papers are reporting that the Catalan club are monitoring Ben Woodburn, as they look to invest in a youngster whose potential has caught the attention of the football world.Incredibly, Barcelona has the chance to sign Woodburn when he went for Spanish trials at the age of 12. However, the European giants decided against a move for the Welsh international. However, it seems that recent performances have re-ignited Barca’s interest.How good has Woodburn been this season?Despite having yet to play a minute of league football for Liverpool this year, Woodburn, who is valued at £1.35million by Transfermarkt has impressed in the League Cup and during pre-season.However, the 18-year-old has earned most of his accolades for his performances in a Wales shirt. The youngster has been a major catalyst for a number of recent wins for the Welsh national team and it is genuinely disappointing that his talents will not be on show in Russia during this Summer’s World Cup.Would Liverpool consider letting Woodburn go to Barca?While Liverpool will do almost everything in their power to ensure that Barcelona don’t land Woodburn, especially after the Coutinho debacle, the Reds can only do so much. If Woodburn wants to test himself at the very highest level then no one would begrudge him a move to arguably the biggest club in the world.

According to ESPN, Manchester United are chasing the signature of in-form defender Aaron Martin, who plays for Espanyol.What’s the Story?Manchester United scouts were in Barcelona on Friday evening to watch Espanyol take on Levante. And reports have suggested that they were keeping a close eye on the home side’s left-back Aaron Martin.The 20-year-old, who is valued at £9million on Transfermarkt, only recently signed a long-term contract which would see him remain at Espanyol until 2022. However, providing Manchester United offer enough, Aaron could be on his way to Old Trafford.How good has Aaron been this season?An ever-present for much of Espanyol’s domestic campaign, Aaron has impressed with his maturity in spite of his young age. The Spaniard has played in all eight league games so far and has not looked at of place when facing some of the most talented stars in La Liga.At just 20, the defender has been part of a unit that have conceded just four goals all season…if you discount their 5-0 drubbing at Barcelona!Would Aaron be a good signing for Manchester United?This is a tough one to call. Firstly, it is likely that Aaron needs to feature in a few more games before United can decide whether to take a punt on the youngster.Secondly, the future of Luke Shaw at Old Trafford will likely be a defining factor in any proposed transfer for Aaron. Jose Mourinho’s well publicized outbursts regarding Shaw’s fitness have always meant that the former Southampton star’s future has been the subject of speculation.

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18/10/2017 | 12:48pmTottenham Hotspur midfielder Harry Winks posted on his official Twitter account after playing the full 90 minutes in his side’s impressive 1-1 draw against Real Madrid in the Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night, and Spurs fans were quick to praise him.What a night to be involved in🙌⚽️thanks to the travelling fans #coys— Harry Winks (@HarryWinks) October 17, 2017The 21-year-old was struggling for game time under Mauricio Pochettino earlier in the campaign and he featured for just 32 minutes in their opening six Premier League matches this term.However, injuries to Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama have seen him start the north London outfit’s last four matches in all competitions, and he made a huge impression against players like Luka Modric and Toni Kroos on what was a daunting occasion against the Champions League holders.Tottenham supporters took to social media to react to the England international’s latest post, and while some said they were “so proud” of him, others said “you’re staying forever”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…Immense. Just immense. So proud. #COYS— Talking THFC (@TalkingTHFC) October 18, 2017Modric has posters of you in his bedroom, goodnight Harry 👏🏼— Hotspur Edition (@HotspurEdition) October 17, 2017You're so much better than Modric— 🇮🇪 (@Aldertonghen_) October 17, 2017Hero— Jack Chang (@Jack1chang) October 17, 2017You didn’t look out of place for one single minute. Great performance.— Chris Fitzgerald (@cfitzy69) October 18, 2017You killed it kiddo. Keep it up. #COYS— Rob McGaw (@GudCanadianKid) October 17, 2017Mate. You're staying forever— Callum Sturt (@CallumSturt94) October 17, 2017

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18/10/2017 | 09:26amAccording to reports in The Mirror, Southampton have opened talks with Barcelona over a January move for striker Paco Alcacer, but they could face competition from French side Lille for his signature.What’s the word, then?Well, The Mirror says that Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino is desperate to bolster his attack after his team have scored just seven goals – three of which came from the penalty spot – in their nine matches in all competitions this season.Nine points from seven Premier League games has certainly put the Argentine under pressure considering the favourable fixtures the south coast outfit had on paper, and he is keen to bring the out-of-favour Alcacer to St Mary’s in the New Year.However, The Mirror says that the 24-year-old is not yet sold on the potential move, which has prompted interest from Lille.How has Alcacer done this season?He has pretty much been frozen out by Barca boss Ernesto Valverde since starting the first La Liga match of the season against Real Betis in August.He has played just 33 minutes of football in all competitions from that opening day appearance and he hasn’t even made the Catalan giants’ matchday squad in three of their last four league games.It looks certain that the Spain international will be leaving the Camp Nou in January, but it remains to be seen whether he would be willing to join Southampton.Why wouldn’t he want to join?The fact that the 2018 World Cup is just around the corner could well be a factor, as the 24-year-old would know that it would be a huge risk to move to a new country when he is looking to find the form that may see him named in Spain’s squad for the finals.That said, he must also consider that he needs to be playing on a regular basis and moving to a Southampton side that is struggling for goals should mean that he does that, and he would subsequently have more chance of finding some form – just as Manolo Gabbiadini did when he first joined the south coast outfit at the start of this year.What’s the verdict?While Saints will hope that they can get a deal over the line for Alcacer in the New Year following his previous form for Valencia, it seems they have a lot of work to do to convince the player that it will be the best move for his career right now.

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18/10/2017 | 08:30amChristian Eriksen has become one of Tottenham Hotspur’s key players, but on a night when top talent had to shine, the midfielder was stuck in the shadows.The Denmark international started against Real Madrid in Tuesday night’s Champions League group match at the Bernabeu.Mauricio Pochettino’s men headed into the fixture as underdogs, but they held their own in the Spanish capital.At times, the North London outfit were severely under pressure, but some goalkeeping heroics from Hugo Lloris kept them in the game.Harry Kane, who scored 11 goals in all competitions for Spurs in September, forced open the deadlock, but the ball came off Madrid’s Raphael Varane.Cristiano Ronaldo levelled up the scoreline to 1-1 by converting from the penalty spot after Serge Aurier brought down Toni Kroos in the box.Tottenham managed to hold on for a point, which delighted the fans, but there was one man that the supporters felt was lacklustre on the pitch.My only slight disappointment was Eriksen, expected more. Winks, Sanchez are legends in the making #coys— Dave (@davelinx1) October 17, 2017Eriksen, had to happen eventually but he had a stinker. Slow in possession, chose the wrong pass too often & never looked on it #THFC #COYS— Cheeseroom FC 🧀⚽️ (@JMEmabbz) October 17, 2017But what happened to Eriksen? Very very silent and anonymous. Was tightly marked though… #coys— Kjetil Ermesjø (@KjetilErmesjo) October 17, 2017I know some think we should have won but we didn't show enough in the final third. Eriksen and Llorente were lacking tbh #COYS— Harry C (@HazSpur92) October 17, 2017Truth is, if Eriksen had of had his normal 9 out 10 performance tonight, we quite possibly might have won! #thfc #coys— Matt (@Spurs2380) October 17, 2017Thoughts on Eriksen? Just didn’t think he played as well as the Eriksen we all know and love? #COYS https://t.co/PaLkp0UcJK— SERGE AURIER (@LukeGriffiths4_) October 17, 2017Without being over critical I thought Eriksen's passing and decision making was below parNow is not the time for negatives though#COYS— Dan Tracey (@dantracey1983) October 17, 2017Great team performance apart from eriksen #COYS— Lou (@VickeryLou) October 17, 2017Eriksen needs to hang a picture of Winks on his wall after tonight #COYS #THFC— Sebastian (@Sebastian__4) October 17, 2017Eriksen absolute pony but 10 other brilliant performances. Looked like we belonged there! #COYS 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼— 👉🏼Steve👈🏼 (@paynotron) October 17, 2017How was it that Sissoko played better than Eriksen tonight? #COYS— Syafiq Ab Ⓜ (@SyafiqAb) October 17, 2017

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18/10/2017 | 07:00amTottenham Hotspur faced the daunting task of taking on Real Madrid in Tuesday night’s Champions League group match, but they managed to come away with a point.For a relatively inexperienced player these matches do not come much bigger, but Harry Winks looked as though he was unfazed by the occasion.The 21-year-old, who recently made his England senior debut, had started just four games in all competitions for Spurs before Tuesday night, but manager Mauricio Pochettino included the midfielder in the starting lineup against Madrid at the Bernabeu.Despite the calibre of opposition he was facing – Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos to name a few – Winks looked hungry on the ball.After an own goal from Raphael Varane, Madrid levelled up through Ronaldo, who netted from the penalty spot, but Spurs were able to keep Los Blancos at bay and leave with a 1-1 draw.Fans watching the game were very quick to praise Winks, who has come through the academy ranks at Tottenham.Harry Winks single handily out played the Madrid trio of Casemerio, Modric and Kroos. What a player @HarryWinks is! 💫 #COYS #UCL— Harry Hotspur (@HarryHotspurWHL) October 17, 2017Harry Winks just went to Real Madrid and showed everyone just why he was picked for England. The boy will be a superstar! #COYS #THFC— Gary Ford (@Spursfordie) October 17, 2017Harry Winks is different gravy 🙊#COYS #THFC— Jack (@MrJSPoll) October 17, 2017Harry Winks was majestic tonight #Coys— Mike Dixon (@ParkLaneDicko) October 17, 2017Harry Winks 🙌💙 #COYS— rohana little (@RohanaMaeLittle) October 17, 2017Winks, started slow but once he got his feet under the table he was remarkable given the opposition. What a future he has #THFC #COYS— Cheeseroom FC 🧀⚽️ (@JMEmabbz) October 17, 2017Still can’t get over how confident and comfortable Harry Winks looked on the ball tonight! Honestly made Modric look semi decent 😂 #COYS— SERGE AURIER (@LukeGriffiths4_) October 17, 2017Harry Winks 94% passing accuracy against the European Champions!! Amazing performance, another #OneOfOurOwn #thfc #coys— Matt (@Spurs2380) October 17, 2017

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18/10/2017 | 12:01amIf there was any doubt about Hugo Lloris’s ability as a goalkeeper, then there certainly will not be now after the Tottenham Hotspur star put on a stellar display against Real Madrid.As expected, Mauricio Pochettino’s team were under the cosh at times during their Champions League group match at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night.Zinedine Zidane’s side are reigning champions for a reason, and they knocked on the door many times during the encounter in Spain.However, it was Spurs who went in front thanks to some skill from Harry Kane, who forced an own goal from Raphael Varane just before the half-hour mark.Madrid continued to unleash waves of pressure, though, and it eventually paid off when Serge Aurier’s clumsy challenge on Toni Kroos in the box resulted in a penalty, which was converted by Cristiano Ronaldo.The hosts had numerous chances to win the game and they may have done so by a significant margin had it not been for Lloris, who made a handful of saves to keep Spurs in the game.One stop in particular will be embedded into the memory of Tottenham fans, and it came in the second half when Lloris denied Karim Benzema a header from close range.The Premier League club will return to England with an impressive point, and they have their goalkeeper to thank for it.Hugo #lloris saving all the shots you'll ever take. #coys pic.twitter.com/m6WIqEyv8i— Paul Davies (@PaulJDavies) October 17, 2017As I said earlier on in the season. One of the best in the WORLD!! #Lloris #COYS https://t.co/rtltnMYcqU— Zeus #COYS (@superspurs34) October 17, 2017That save by Lloris from Benzema. Wow. Best I’ve seen at Spurs in the last 30 years #coys— Jay1882 (@Jay_1882) October 17, 2017Lloris never leave my club. #COYS— SB (@SarcasticShubh) October 17, 2017Lloris was on absolute 🔥🔥 tonight! He kept us in that game, plenty of missed chances though, could have won that about 3-1 #COYS— Elliott (@E_Connelly94) October 17, 2017Hugo Lloris is my favourite human alive right now. How did he save that header, I think I’m in love 😻❤️ #THFC #RMATOT #COYS— G.Wilka (@george72573717) October 17, 2017…and our captain, Hugo Lloris. Sensational saves all night long. 😍 @SpursOfficial #COYS— Michaela ⚓️ (@MB2314) October 17, 2017@SpursOfficial's Hugo Lloris doesnt get much credit. Absolutely fabulous tonight, with 4 key saves at the #Bernabeu. Love my Club. #COYS— Ray Verma (@rayverma) October 17, 2017Lloris has had an unbelievable game tonight #COYS— Joe Sutton (@Suttbags) October 17, 2017I thought Lloris was maybe past his best. I’m an idiot and Hugo is my hero. #COYS— Richard Joyce (@R_J_Joyce) October 17, 2017

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17/10/2017 | 06:56pmPrior to this evening, Fernando Llorente had made just one start for Tottenham Hotspur, and that was in a Carabao Cup match.Tonight, the Spaniard finds himself in the starting XI for Spurs’ huge Champions League group match against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.Manager Mauricio Pochettino has made a surprise call by including Llorente in the lineup alongside Harry Kane up front.The forward has made three Premier League appearances and two in Europe so far this season, but in none of those outings was he included in the first XI.Meanwhile, Danny Rose, who has been out of action for the past nine months with a knee injury, has made it onto the substitutes bench, but there is no place for Moussa Dembele.￼#THFC: Lloris (C), Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Sanchez, Aurier, Sissoko, Dier, Winks, Eriksen, Kane, Llorente. #COYS pic.twitter.com/tORTEicas0— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 17, 2017The main talking point from the fans, though, is Llorente’s inclusion, with many surprised that Pochettino has opted to start the striker in a game of this magnitude.The 32-year-old does have experience playing against Madrid having had spells at Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla.Kane and Llorente in the same team. I mean, don't try these things at home to Bournemouth…but nah we will try it against Real Madrid #coys https://t.co/ODF4tqdgkH— Ollie Olly Oli (@OllieClaco1882) October 17, 2017Woah, didn’t see Kane and Llorente coming. Llorente as the out ball to no doubt hold play up. #COYS #THFC https://t.co/N98Sdn61Hf— ♕ (@thfc_lennkerk) October 17, 2017Interesting selection. Didn’t expect to see Winks or Llorente start. #COYS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— Stefan Blois (@BloisStefan) October 17, 2017Strange team, would have Son instead of Llorente & an actual LB but other than that 0-4 win in the bag!!! #RMATOT #COYS— CMJ Flaners (@HeelFlaners) October 17, 2017Llorente is in this match to hold onto the ball, could be key factor #THFC #COYS— RuckerHaringey (@RuckerHaringey) October 17, 2017Kane-Llorente #tasty #COYS— FMC (@fm_carv) October 17, 2017Fernando Llorente starts for Tottenham tonight. #THFC #COYS #UCL pic.twitter.com/q0cUWwLIZu— Marc Benamram (@MarcBenamram) October 17, 2017Very interesting from Poch. I guess Llorente brings Spanish experience. Kane free to roam. Aurier & Sissoko bromancing. Big task ahead #COYS— el wehbi (@ibleedhotspur) October 17, 2017Kane and Llorente up front for #THFC tonight just goes to show that Poch believes Madrid can be beaten tonight. Huge decision. #COYS— Jordan Pomeroy (@EastTerrace00) October 17, 2017

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23/10/2017 | 06:00pmManchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira has admitted that he would prefer to spend the remainder of the 2017-18 campaign on loan at Spanish club Valencia.Pereira, 21, went against the wishes of United boss Jose Mourinho to join Valencia on a season-long loan during the summer transfer window.The playmaker has scored once and provided one assist in seven La Liga appearances this season, with his form drawing admiring glances.United have the chance to recall Pereira during the January transfer window, and it is understood that Mourinho is exploring that possibility due to his injury problems in midfield.Pereira, however, has revealed that he wants to spend the whole season with Valencia before returning to Old Trafford ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.Pereira told AS:“When I signed, I knew that this clause existed. But now I am calm, focused on Valencia. Nobody called me from Manchester.“I’m calm, if they want them to go back they’ll call. I want to stay here for the whole season because I’m fit, I feel good… If I had to go back it would be difficult again.”Marouane Fellaini, Paul Pogba and Michael Carrick are all currently on the sidelines for United, who suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season away to Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon.Scott McTominay, who benefited from Pereira’s departure, could be given the chance to impress when United visit Swansea City in the fourth round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.

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25/10/2017 | 09:30amReal Madrid president Florentino Perez has told Cadena COPE that the club have not contemplated making a move for Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane.What’s the word?It was only a few weeks ago when Spanish outlet Diario Gol reported that Madrid were gathering together a three-man swap deal to convince Spurs to sell their striker.The publication claimed that the Spanish giants were willing to offload Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric to get a deal over the line.However, Real president Perez has now played down suggestions that Los Blancos are even interested in the 24-year-old, telling Cadena COPE:“Signing Harry Kane has not passed through my head. He is a great player and in addition he is young. He has many years to progress, but we are delighted with Benzema and with all of the team. I didn’t ask Tottenham’s president [chairman, Daniel Levy] for the price because he would have told me that he [Kane] is worth €250million.”Have we overreacted?There is a tendency in this country for English players to be overhyped, but it is safe to say that Kane is the real deal.The forward has proven that he is not a one-season wonder having won back-to-back Golden Boots in the last two Premier League seasons.Kane has also become a pivotal figure at Tottenham, leading the charge in the club’s recent title campaigns and he is on course to do the same.As it stands, the striker has scored 13 goals in all competitions for the North London club.Is he Real Madrid calibre, though?When multiple Champions League winners and World Cup heroes fill a squad, then a player needs to be at an elite level if he wants to join.Kane has not won a trophy and moving to Madrid, where silverware is the minimum requirement, would be a big step up.However, Gareth Bale was in a similar situation when he moved to the Bernabeu in 2013 and has gone on to win 10 trophies, including three European crowns.Kane has the ability to thrive in Spain, but he is in a comfortable position as the talisman at Spurs having come through the ranks and being regarded as a hero.The striker would find himself in a completely different scenario if he made the move.

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25/10/2017 | 04:00pmAccording to reports in The Sun, Everton could be set to double their money on forward Henry Onyekuru if they decide to sell him, despite the fact that he is yet to play for them.What’s the word, then?Well, The Sun says that European giants Juventus and Atletico Madrid want the 20-year-old, who joined the Toffees during the summer but was immediately loaned to Belgian side Anderlecht with the Merseyside outfit unable to get a work permit for him.The Sun says that the Nigeria international cost £7m when moved from KAS Eupen, but he could already be worth double that after impressing for Anderlecht domestically and in the Champions League, and Everton must decide whether to cash in on him.The report adds that Juve are keen after missing out on Keita Balde Diao to Monaco during the summer, while Atletico see the forward as potential long-term replacement for Fernando Torres.How has Onyekuru done this season?The 20-year-old earned his move to Goodison Park after a sensational season with KAS Eupen in which he scored 24 goals and provided a further nine assists in 41 appearances in all competitions, with the majority of those outings coming from the left wing.The Nigerian attacker has quickly shown that he isn’t just a one-season wonder by netting seven times in 15 appearances for Anderlecht this term, and he was unfortunate not to score in the 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League earlier this month after he hit the woodwork.Would Everton really sell him?Considering their current struggles and their apparent need for pace and clinical finishing right now, they would be mad to sell the forward for any price.Onyekuru has already shown the ability he has and he looks to be a real promising player for the future too, meaning the Merseyside outfit should look to keep hold of him.If obtaining a work permit proves to be difficult then they could consider cashing in on the 20-year-old, but it seems unlikely that they will give up that easily on such a talented young player that they had to fight off lots of competition for.

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25/10/2017 | 05:10pmAccording to Don Balon, Manchester United are interested in signing Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.What’s the story?Despite spending £40m on Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic during the summer transfer window, it is understood that United boss Jose Mourinho is still keen to boost his midfield options.Ander Herrera has struggled to make his mark in the absences of Paul Pogba, Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini, and it has been suggested that the Spaniard could move on at the end of the season.According to Don Balon, Mourinho wants a world-class holding midfielder to play alongside Matic and Pogba, and has identified Real Madrid’s Casemiro as the perfect player to join the club.The report has claimed that United would be willing to offer Casemiro a better salary than he currently collects at the Bernabeu as Mourinho continues to spend big in a bid to return the 20-time English champions to the top of European football.Would Casemiro be worth the money?The 25-year-old has been a first-team regular for Real Madrid since re-joining the club from Porto in the summer of 2015.The 18-time Brazil international made 42 appearances in all competitions last season, and has managed two goals in 12 appearances for the Spanish giants this term.Casemiro actually scored six times for Los Blancos during the 2016-17 campaign, whilst his style of football would certainly work well in the Premier League.It seems unlikely that Real Madrid would sell the defensive midfielder without putting up a fight, but the chance to play in the Premier League might well turn his head.United are well-stocked in midfield when everyone is fit, but the Red Devils do lack a world-class defensive midfielder that can get about the pitch, and Casemiro certainly fits the ball in that respect.

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25/10/2017 | 07:00pmAccording to the Daily Mail, Manchester United want to tie up a £30m deal for Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler ahead of next summer’s transfer window.What’s the story?Soler, 20, is widely regarded as one of the best young talents in Spanish football.The midfielder broke into the Valencia first team last season, and ended the 2016-17 campaign having made 18 appearances in all competitions.The Spain Under-21 international has scored once and provided four assists in nine league appearances this season, meanwhile, helping Los Che to second position in La Liga after a brilliant start to the campaign.According to the Daily Mail, United boss Jose Mourinho is a firm admirer of Soler’s talents, and the Portuguese sees him as the perfect foil for Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic in the middle of the park.Would Valencia let him go for £30m?Soler is contracted to Valencia until the summer of 2021, whilst the fact that the midfielder’s deal includes a £75m buyout seems to place the Spanish side in a strong position when it comes to negotiation.Los Che are not in a position to turn down a big-money offer, however, and it seems likely that United could sign the youngster for a figure in the region of £30m.United will not be the only club interested in a player that boasts excellent statistics this season, but it seems that the 20-time English champions have moved quickly in a bid to hold off any competition.Soler, who came through the youth system at Valencia, could well star for Spain at the 2018 World Cup, and if United have things their way, he will go from Russia to Manchester to link-up with his new teammates.

According to Don Balon, Antonio Conte is desperate to land Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez, with the Chelsea manager willing to spend £71million on the Spaniard.What’s the Story?Reports in Spain are claiming that Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is an admirer of 22-year-old midfielder Saul Niguez and is happy to pay up to £71million to lure the international away from Atletico Madrid this January.However, Saul signed a new contract with his beloved club during the summer; a contract which has a release clause of £133million. While the Blues are unlikely to pay this much, reports suggest that Conte will not give up his pursuit of the talented Spanish star without a fightHow good has Saul been for Atletico Madrid this season?Like much of Atletico Madrid’s team this season, Saul is far from finding his form of recent years, The 22-year-old, who is valued at £36million by Transfermarkt, is still one of the clubs top performers however.Saul has featured in 12 games for Diego Simeone’s men this season and has frequently dominated the midfield, with his unrivalled energy and talents in both offensive and defensive phases of play.Would Saul be a good signing for Chelsea?Strong, skillful, intelligent and passionate; Saul has these characteristics in abundance. With the Spanish contigent at Chelsea getting larger by the transfer window, Saul would have no problem fitting in.However, his adoration for current club Atletico Madrid could mean that the Premier League Champions would have a hard time even reaching an agreement with the midfielder.

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26/10/2017 | 04:33pm
According to the International Business Times, Newcastle United are monitoring Villarreal winger Alfonso Pedraza, who is currently out on loan with fellow La Liga side Alaves.The IB Times says that the 21-year-old has garnered a reputation as one of the most promising players to graduate from the prolific Villarreal academy in recent years, and he even spent time on loan with Championship side Leeds United last season.The report says that Magpies’ Premier League rivals Southampton are also keen on the wide man, with scouts from both clubs watching the Spain Under-21 international in action in La Liga.It is hardly surprising that the Tyneside outfit are watching the Spaniard given Rafa Benitez is their manager and the fact that they have the likes of Mikel Merino, Ayoze Perez, Javier Manquillo and Joselu in their squad, but it may not be a smart decision to add the forward to their ever-growing Spanish contingent.Here are three reasons Newcastle should steer clear of signing Pedraza…

2 minute read
27/10/2017 | 06:00amReal Madrid have placed Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld on their list of transfer targets, according to Don Balon.What’s the word?The transfer links between Tottenham and Madrid have emerged yet again, but this time it is Alderweireld who is at the centre of them.The Belgian is yet to pen fresh terms at the North London club, leading to suggestions that the 28-year-old may consider his options at the end of the season.Don Balon claims that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is an admirer of the defender, who is being considered as a potential partner at the back for Sergio Ramos.Could it be down to wages?There is no doubt that Spurs are heading in the right direction as a club given that they have been in the race for the Premier League title the past two seasons.The North London outfit are also due to move into a state-of-the-art new stadium for the 2018-19 campaign, which will further boost their status as a genuine threat in English football.With that being said, it begs the question why Alderweireld, who is a regular starter under manager Mauricio Pochettino, has not yet signed a new deal.It is no secret that Spurs have one of the more modest wage structures in the top flight, and if Madrid do come calling, they would be able to offer Alderweireld a much bigger pay package.The defender’s plans for the future are unknown, but if Tottenham want to be among the big boys on the pitch, then they need to boost salaries off it.

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27/10/2017 | 06:45amThey say that defensive football is boring. That the art of organising a team to be solid and nigh-on impenetrable is against the ideals of football, the idea of which is to out-score the opponent, not out-concede them.Those people might point to Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United at their most brazen, but they have clearly never watched Atletico Madrid in their pomp.There may be no more thrilling sight in football than a blazing counter-attack where each player knows his job. To see a team go from defending to attacking in a whirlwind of a moment is exciting, but it’s the ruthlessness of the finish that makes it altogether more predatory. Like a lion downing a gazelle it is both brutal and oddly mesmeric. In order to achieve that, you have to lie in wait first.At times over the last year and a bit, since Mourinho arrived at United, it’s the gladiatorial thrill of the counter we’ve been missing, apart from the first few games of this season. But when it came to the best of Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone, that wasn’t the only reason games were enjoyable. There was a joy to watching them defend, too.Importantly, though, it was a conspiratorial joy.When you watched Atletico play – seemingly no matter who they were playing against – they’d never dominate the opposition. Everything was on edge, even until the last minutes. There would be a quality and a class in attack, players like Diego Costa and later Antoine Griezmann would let you know you were watching a top side. But there was something about watching them defend as a team which mesmerised as much as the passing motions of Barcelona in their pomp.Diego Simeone gets the crowd involved. Everyone is a part. Everything is on edge. Atleti became a big team, La Liga champions in 2014 and Champions League finalists twice in three years, but rarely did they win even the small games by big margins, not like the big teams did. Indeed, that’s not what the crowd were there to see.In fact, they didn’t arrive to see. They arrived to take part. The Vicente Calderon was filled with people whose job it was to roar the team on because the alternative was to bite their nails. The manager had convinced them that they were part of the war effort, and they had duly resolved to sing for victory.All you had to do was look at the two banks of four moving in tandem to see the beauty, but a glance at the ball – always at the feet of an opponent – showed that it was all in the balance. One slight mistake from a defender was all it would take before it was gone.It’s rare for a club to create a sense of community quite like that one, where there is a shared goal between players and fans, especially one which involved such intense concentration in defence. The aim is to entertain the crowd, but not through Pep Guardiola dominance: through the opposite. Fans were complicit in the result, and when you make the defensive performances heroic enough to be thrilling, it’s no longer ‘entertainment’, it’s an immersive experience.Manchester United will never be Atletico Madrid. United are too big a club. They can never be the underdogs like Simeone’s side can. They don’t have a Real Madrid or a Barcelona to usurp, just noisy neighbours to silence now that Liverpool have long since been knocked off their perch.The siege mentality that Mourinho creates among his players might well bear fruit in the end, but it’s hard for a fan to buy into that because there is no complicity. They aren’t involved, at least not in the same way. If they aren’t there to be entertained by attacking play, nor are they there to sing for victory, then why exactly are they turning up? And they will turn up, because they support their team, but a reason removes the wall.This year, Atletico aren’t the same team. Their stadium move hinders and probably weakens them. There were always going to be teething problems and they may well overcome them in the future, maybe even this season, but there is something missing. At the Calderon, though, they were barely penetrable: the fans were complicit in the result and that in turn helped focus the team on the game itself.That might sound like a strange concept, but it’s an important one which brings together the comparison between Atletico and Manchester United. Because if a style of football which is primarily about defensive organisation and individual attacking flair on the counter is to work in the long-term, then you can’t have your team defending like it’s a mathematical equation or an academic exercise. You can’t line up in two banks of four for the majority of every game. It gets boring for the players.But, if you’re being willed to focus by 45,000 baying fans roaring at every clearance and tackle because they’re complicit in the result, then you’re not focusing on a ‘job’, but you’re defending something much more meaningful than that. And that’s not boring for anyone involved, players of fans.Jose Mourinho’s problem is that, in the long term, performances like his two at Anfield in his time at United aren’t possible unless you create that same sort of complicity between fans and players. It’s true that you can’t create that in one transitional season, but the worry is that he won’t actually try. And if he doesn’t, he might end up like quite a few performances like he got against Huddersfield, when his players, perhaps lacking motivation because of their rigid and unadventurous style of play, simply failed to turn up in the first half.But even if he does attempt to string together an overarching philosophy like Simeone did in Spain, one of the reasons why Atletico were such a force in Europe, and why they were, counter-intuitively, such a joy to watch, was because they always felt like the underdogs. Manchester United, on the other hand, are English football’s most successful club and three-time winners of the European Cup. They will never be underdogs, and may never even want to be.And that’s the sticking point. Mourinho can win the league playing football in such a way. He may even win Champions Leagues. But at a club like Manchester United, will he ever be able to create a situation like Diego Simeone did, where heroic defensive performances are thrilling, not drab 0-0s against the club’s biggest and bitterest rivals?If not, he might have to learn to out-score even the biggest teams, not just out-concede them.

2 minute read
27/10/2017 | 07:50pmManchester City hope to sign Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez, while Sergio Aguero is wanted by Real Madrid, according to Don Balon.What’s the word?During the summer transfer window, judging from all the media reports, Sanchez was closing in on a switch to the Etihad Stadium.Despite the interest, a deal never came to fruition and now the attacker is free to leave Arsenal for nothing at the end of the season.Don Balon reports that the Gunners will try to sell Sanchez in January in order to get some cash, which could pave the way for Aguero to move on.The Spanish publication claims that the Argentine is open to a move to Real Madrid, with Spain’s warmer climate being one of the attractions.What should Man City do?This season, Pep Guardiola has certainly got his team ticking, particularly in attack.The North-West outfit have a five-point advantage in the Premier League title race and are unbeaten in all competitions so far.City have been in scintillating form having scored 32 top-flight goals, and in five of their nine outings they have netted three or more.Adding Sanchez to that forward line would make Guardiola’s side even more threatening to the opposition.Plus, the Chile international is versatile in that he can play across the front line in various positions, which is something that Aguero has struggled with in the past.Can they keep both?If Sanchez was to join City, it is likely that Aguero would be the one that would have to sacrifice game time.There is no denying that the 29-year-old is a crucial member of the team given that he has scored 129 goals in 188 league games since his 2011 switch from Atletico Madrid.However, the striker’s fitness issues have been a concern, and as mentioned, Aguero does not possess the same level of versatility as Sanchez.Moving to Real Madrid could end up being the right fit for the forward.

2 minute read
27/10/2017 | 08:10pmManchester United have cooled interest in Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, according to Diario Gol.What’s the story?A few months ago, United manager Jose Mourinho was praising the Wales international to the high heavens, suggesting that he wanted to make a move.However, it seems that the Portuguese coach has now changed his mind about the 28-year-old, who moved to the Bernabeu from Tottenham Hotspur n 2013.Diario Gol claims that Mourinho has been put off by Bale’s injury record, which has prevented him from having a consistent run in the last season and a half.In the 2016-17 campaign, the attacker had spells on the sidelines with hip, ankle and calf problems, the latter of which is still troubling him as he has now missed six games of the current season.Should United forget about Bale?An injury-prone player can end up being a regretful purchase, and it is safe to say that over the past year or so, the Real Madrid star has struggled.When fit, though, the ex-Spurs star can be a game-changer and could propel United to the league title.There is always a risk when it comes to injuries, but Bale is certainly worth taking a chance on given that he has scored 70 goals in 159 games for the Spanish giants.Due to the fitness issues, United have every right to argue for a lower price tag than the £85m that Madrid spent to sign Bale four years ago.Whether Los Blancos are willing to consider a lower offer remains to be seen.

1 minute read
27/10/2017 | 10:00pmManchester United are interested in signing Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro, according to Diario Gol.What’s the story?The Brazilian has become an important figure in Zinedine Zidane’s team over the last few seasons, even though he has been at the club since 2013.The 25-year-old has started seven of Los Blancos’ nine La Liga games so far and all three of the club’s Champions League fixtures.Diario Gol reports that Casemiro is on United’s radar as manager Jose Mourinho looks to bolster his defensive options in midfield.However, there are suggestions that the Red Devils’ interest could be used to persuade Madrid into offering Casemiro a pay rise.Should United be wary?In short, yes. These situations have played out before when the likes of a big-name star uses another club to force their current outfit’s hand.There have been no indications that Casemiro is unhappy at the Bernabeu or is even open to moving on elsewhere.In the past, rumours of a sensational return to Old Trafford for Cristiano Ronaldo have emerged, only for the four-time Ballon d’Or winner to sign fresh terms at Madrid.A club of United’s stature should not allow themselves to get dragged into a cat and mouse situation, particularly if the player has no desire to join them.

3 minute read
28/10/2017 | 07:02pm
According to the International Business Times, Southampton are interested in signing Villarreal winger Alfonso Pedraza, who is currently on loan at fellow La Liga side Alaves.The IB Times says that the 21-year-old is considered to be one of the most promising young players to graduate from the Villarreal academy in recent years, and he would have made his loan move Championship side Leeds United last season permanent if they had have been promoted at the end of the campaign.The report says that the south coast outfit’s Premier League rivals Newcastle United have also scouted the attacker in action in Spain.Of course, Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino may have already have seen a number of scout reports on the player himself considering he was the coach of Alaves last season, but it may not be a smart decision to bring him to St Mary’s during the January transfer window or even next summer.Here are three reasons Southampton should steer clear of signing Pedraza….

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30/10/2017 | 10:30amTottenham Hotspur were flying high after comfortably defeating Liverpool 4-1 at Wembley just over a week ago.Mauricio Pochettino’s men were unbeaten in seven Premier League matches heading into Saturday’s clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.However, during the build up they suffered a big blow when Harry Kane was struck down with a hamstring injury.The prolific striker, who has scored 13 goals in all competitions so far this season, was left out of the squad and as a result, the team struggled in the final third.In the end, United earned a 1-0 victory, with substitute Anthony Martial scoring the winner in the 81st minute.Next up for the North London outfit is a crucial Champions League encounter with Real Madrid at Wembley.Pochettino’s men earned a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu, keeping them on level terms with Zinedine Zidane’s side in the group.Despite the disappointment of the result at Old Trafford, the fans are now switching their focus to Wednesday’s showdown.# COYSLets beat Madrid this wednesday.— Benjamin Mensah (@Gospel_Brand) October 29, 2017Wednesday will be great— huni phil farai (@PhilHuni) October 30, 2017go, Spurs!— Thomas E. C. Barclay (@tecbarclay) October 30, 2017I will support you from here in Brazil. Spurs o /— Douglas Clouser (@douglasclouser) October 30, 2017And I'll be there COYS— nigel french (@FrenchNigel) October 29, 2017Very unlucky yesterday. Huge game on Wednesday and the opportunity to qualify for the #UCL last 16! Still proud of the effort #COYS— Daniel Woodley (@dwoodley1990) October 29, 2017Still mad but COYS 💙— ♚ Suzy (@SuzyLilywhite) October 29, 2017good luck boys— Yaslam (@yaslam_222) October 29, 2017#victory all the way— Usman Hassan (@UsmanHa59329797) October 29, 2017Always on yr side…..we always support you. 👍👍👍— Derrick (@Derricksimos) October 30, 2017

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30/10/2017 | 01:20pmTottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has suggested that Harry Kane could miss Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid, reports The Mirror.What’s wrong?A hamstring injury kept the 24-year-old out of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United, and it seems that the striker may struggle to be fit in time for the visit of Madrid.No timeline of recovery has been offered and Kane has not been ruled out of the match entirely, but Pochettino is being cautious.The Mirror quotes the Argentine as saying:“With the doctors and the player, we will take the best decision for everyone. It’s not the last game or the final where you would say: ‘ok, after that it’s holidays.’“We must analyse and take the best decision for everyone. We will assess him and then we will make the best decision. My feeling is good. But it’s not my feeling, it’s Harry Kane’s feeling.”The player himself if believed to be keen to get back on the pitch for the crucial European encounter, which ended in 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at the Bernabeu.Can Tottenham cope without him?Spurs are certainly not a one-man team, but Kane’s absence was felt against United at Old Trafford.The visiting team put in a good shift in defence, but that crucial touch was missing in the final third, with Son Heung-min and Dele Alli failing to find the breakthrough.Kane offers a huge threat up front, but without him against a team of Madrid’s calibre, Tottenham may need to change their tactics.Fernando Llorente is next in line, but with all due respect, the Spaniard is not on the same level as his teammate.Everyone connected with Tottenham will be praying that Kane is passed fit for the Wembley showdown.

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1/11/2017 | 06:30amTottenham Hotspur have been keen to stress that they are not a one-man team, and while that may be the case, the North London outfit missed Harry Kane’s presence against Manchester United at the weekend.Mauricio Pochettino’s men failed to seriously threaten David de Gea and ended up losing 1-0 at Old Trafford.Kane missed out on the trip to the North-West of England due to a hamstring injury, but it seems that the striker could be available for tonight’s Champions League contest against Real Madrid at Wembley.During his pre-match press conference, Pochettino confirmed to reporters that the 24-year-old took part in training and is hopeful of being 100% fit for the clash.Earlier this month, the Premier League club earned a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu, which has left them level on points with Madrid in Group H.Given that Spurs are closing in on qualification for the last 16, some fans think that Kane should not be risked against the Spanish giants, but rather allow him to be fresh for Sunday’s league match against Crystal Palace.Others, though, are keen for the England international to be unleashed this evening.I hope he's available for the Real game.— Nisha. (@NishaZaharie) October 31, 2017HES PLAYING ALRIGHT— 🇮🇪 (@Aldertonghen_) October 31, 2017The best notice ever 🔥🤤 #COYS— Luis Angel Alvarado® (@Soyluiso8) October 31, 2017Play him lads— Lewis 🇬🇧 (@L_Addison01) October 31, 2017Please don’t play him, wait for Saturday!— tweetmicka (@tweetmicka) October 31, 2017Pls put Kane in the starting 11 against Real Madrid ❤️— Aizzy Kane (@FarhanAizzy) October 31, 2017Rest him up lads— Seedotu (@cunderwood97) October 31, 2017Don't play him tomorrow keep him fresh for the league— Seanie G (@theseanieg) October 31, 2017Don't risk him simple.— Mark Lucas (@Mark_lucasSkem) October 31, 2017play him we can't beat real Madrid without him— leeroy sibanda (@leeroysibanda2) October 31, 2017Dont risk him if not 100%, whatever you do 🙏— Double M (@Marl_McC) October 31, 2017

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1/11/2017 | 08:00amThe build-up to the first Champions League encounter between Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid was dominated by transfer rumours linking Harry Kane with a move to the Bernabeu.The second fixture between the pair has also been dominated by Kane, but this time it is centred around the striker’s fitness.Tottenham were without the 24-year-old for Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United due to a hamstring injury.The England international has returned to training ahead of Wednesday’s showdown against Madrid at Wembley, but manager Mauricio Pochettino is unsure whether Kane will be named in the first XI.After sealing two wins and a draw, Spurs are well positioned to qualify for the last 16 in Europe, which means that they could afford to rest Kane rather than risk him.Football pundit Charlie Nicholas believes that Pochettino’s men could rub salt into the wound of Madrid, who head into this week’s match on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Girona in La Liga.The former Arsenal forward told Sky Sports:“Real Madrid had a shocking result losing to Girona on Sunday and if Kane is fully fit then they are there for the taking. They look all over the place and looking to blame each other, with Sergio Ramos likely to be up to his old tricks and Cristiano Ronaldo unhappy with the physical treatment he’ll get from Tottenham’s defence.”

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2/11/2017 | 09:30amTottenham Hotspur beat the Champions League holders Real Madrid 3-1 at Wembley on Wednesday night to qualify for the knockout stages of the competitions, and Spurs fans were understandably ecstatic.Mauricio Pochettino’s men came into the clash against the La Liga giants on the back of a 1-1 draw in the Bernabeu a fortnight ago, and they perhaps couldn’t have dreamt that they would perform so well on their own patch.The north London outfit dominated the match from start to finish and a brace from Dele Alli – who was making his first appearance in the Champions League this season following suspension – was added to by a goal from Christian Eriksen to wrap up a relatively comfortable victory.Tottenham supporters were quick to have their say on the historic win via social media, and while one simply said “give us the trophy now”, another said “never thought I’d see this”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…I need to change my pants— ㅤ (@G0Spurs) November 1, 2017I LOVE THIS CLUB— Jack 🔥 (@jretchford_) November 1, 2017Can we play them every week?— Anton (@NowhereFast91) November 1, 2017Never thought I’d see this. WHAT A NIGHT— Ben Burrell (@benburrell) November 1, 2017GIVE US THE TROPHY NOW @ChampionsLeague— ㅤ (@DeleAllington) November 1, 2017What a performance. What a win. Congratulations to all the lads #THFC 👏👏. A deserved victory as well. A night to live in the memory 😀— Luke Jack Conlaund (@ConlaundLuke) November 1, 2017Best night ever #coys— GRAHAM RIDER (@grarid) November 1, 2017Beautiful…. simply beautiful…#coys— TCSIO (@TangoCharlieSIO) November 1, 2017Unbelievable tonight lads. I have the biggest smile on my face right now! #COYS!— Judith Burr (@swampduck12) November 1, 2017

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2/11/2017 | 10:30amTottenham Hotspur recorded a famous 3-1 win against Champions League holders Real Madrid at Wembley on Wednesday night, and Spurs fans were quick to praise two-goal hero Dele Alli.The 21-year-old was making his first appearance in the competition this season after sitting out the previous three matches through suspension, and he took just 27 minutes to give his team the lead when he finished from close range.The England international added a second 11 minutes after half-time when his strike deflected off of Sergio Ramos and into the net, with Christian Eriksen wrapping up the three points nine minutes later.Having struggled for form so far this term – and after missing a decent chance in the 1-0 loss against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday – this could be the catalyst for Alli to return to his very best.Tottenham supporters were quick to have their say on his performance via social media, and while one described him as “the best player on the pitch”, another said it was “the best individual performance I’ve seen in the flesh”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…What a result! Dele Alli is back! #COYS— Sean Logue (@SeanLogue1) November 1, 2017Dele Alli is the King. What is he the King of, you ask? Of any damn place or thing that he wants, that’s what! #COYS #THFC— Jared Kozal (@jkozal) November 1, 2017Who’s your MOTM? Its difficult, but I’m going for Dele Alli. Total performance 👏 #COYS— Zeus #COYS (@superspurs34) November 1, 2017Alli was immense tonight. Was due a good game! #COYS— Jack Perkins (@MrJPerkins) November 1, 2017Alli making up for a bad miss against United, best player on the pitch #TOTRMA #COYS— Nairobi Newsam (@NairobiNewsam) November 1, 2017Alli tonight is the best individual performance I've seen in the flesh, against the best team in the world as well, incredible player.— Stephen (@SvenMorty) November 1, 2017That’s the way to shut them up what a performance 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 #coys— H Zand (@Kengo61) November 2, 2017

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2/11/2017 | 12:00pmTottenham Hotspur qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League with two games to spare following a brilliant 3-1 win against the holders Real Madrid at Wembley on Wednesday night, and Spurs fans were full of praise for the performance of Kieran Trippier.The 27-year-old started at right wing-back ahead of summer signing Serge Aurier, and he was outstanding at both ends of the pitch as a brace from Dele Alli and a goal from Christian Eriksen wrapped up a deserved win on a night that Mauricio Pochettino’s men dominated the La Liga giants.Trippier provided the assist for the opening goal when his first-time cross from Harry Winks’ pass was turned home by Alli, and the former Burnley man impressed with his delivery from the right throughout the 90 minutes.Tottenham supporters were quick to have their say on his showing via social media, and while one described it as his “best game in a Spurs shirt”, another said “if you don’t rate Trippier then I seriously pity you”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…Trippier dazzling on Europe's top table last night, what a performance and what a season he is having. #COYS#THFCpic.twitter.com/MfMFg2Djf8— Last Word On Spurs🎙 (@LastWordOnSpurs) November 2, 2017A few slices of humble pie being eaten this morning for many. Long-term scapegoat, Kieran Trippier outstanding ‘again’ last night 👊🏻 #COYS— Ben Harris (@thisisbenharris) November 2, 2017Trippier’s best game in a Spurs shirt tonight. Excellent going forward, and kept Ronaldo in his pocket. Well played, @trippier2! 👏🏻 #COYS— Harry Hotspur (@HarryHotspurWHL) November 2, 2017Trippier outstanding along with Dele and Kane (amazing hold up play). Back 3 superb and Dier is such a leader. The future is Spurs #coys— Dom K (@dom_k) November 1, 2017Brilliant to see Kieran Trippier finally getting the deserved recognition from Spurs fans. Brilliant player with a brilliant attitude #COYS— George Poole (@GeorgePuddle) November 1, 2017If you don’t rate Trippier then I seriously pity you, I know he isn’t the best at the back but going forward he is incredible #COYS— Nad (@nad_THFC) November 1, 2017Also, Trippier was extraordinary. His delivery, often first time, was fantastic. #COYS— Roberto Kusabbi (@RKTweets) November 1, 2017Kieran Trippier saves his best ever Tottenham performance for tonight, incredible display where so many doubted the bloke. 👏🏻 #COYS#THFC pic.twitter.com/D8B3aUNNfu— Ricky Sacks 🎙 (@RickSpur) November 1, 2017I doubted Trippier playing over Aurier and he shut me right up. I wouldn't have it any other way. Masterclass from Trips #COYS— Herbo (@HerbMcDerb) November 1, 2017

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2/11/2017 | 03:20pmOn Wednesday night, Tottenham Hotspur sent a very clear message that they mean business in the Champions League.Mauricio Pochettino’s team already proved that they can hold their own against elite opposition when they restricted Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu.At Wembley, though, the players took a step forward by sealing a 3-1 victory over Zinedine Zidane’s side, which also sent the club into the last 16 of the competition.Dele Alli, who had missed the first three group games due to a UEFA ban, scored twice before Christian Eriksen wrapped it up.In the end, Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal was solely a consolation for the Spanish giants, who have lost back-to-back games for the first time under Zidane since January.Osvaldo Ardiles, who is widely regarded as a Tottenham legend, delivered his verdict of the match on Twitter, and pointed out a key difference between the two clubs.The difference: we were a Team. Fighting for each other. Helping. Going the extra mile. Real: a collection of very talented individuals. COYS— osvaldo ardiles (@osvaldooardiles) November 2, 2017Spurs have two more group games to play before they take on the first knockout round of the competition.

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3/11/2017 | 05:22pmAccording to reports in the Daily Mail, Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as Real Madrid’s top target to replace Zinedine Zidane if the Frenchman fails to last the course of the season.What’s the word, then?Well, despite lifting the La Liga trophy and becoming the first club to win the Champions League in successive seasons last term, the Daily Mail says Zidane is under pressure at the Bernabeu for the first time in 19 months with his team making a poor start to the campaign.After 10 Spanish top flight matches they are already eight points behind Barcelona after drawing two and losing two this term, while they have dropped four points against Tottenham in the Champions League including their 3-1 defeat against Spurs at Wembley on Wednesday night.The Daily Mail says that Pochettino is seen as the long-term solution to Real’s current problems, with president Florentino Perez having a great relationship with the Argentine after referring to him as ‘My Poch’ before their draw in Spain’s capital last month.The report adds that he would prove to be a popular addition after saying he could never coach their arch-rivals Barcelona having played for and managed Espanyol.Should Tottenham fans be worried?It’s difficult to say.While Pochettino will no doubt be flattered to be linked with the La Liga giants, it is unclear whether he would be willing to leave Tottenham given the impressive project he is building and that fact he clearly loves the north London outfit.With stars like Harry Kane and Dele Alli at his disposal he may feel that he has a good chance of winning both the Premier League and Champions League with Spurs, and he could turn down Real as Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has on three occasions, according to the Daily Mail.That said, the promise of a bigger budget and the likelihood of winning more trophies could prove to be tempting, even if he is loved by his current players and the supporters.What’s the verdict, then?Well, there is no doubt that if Zidane goes in the near future Pochettino will be one of the favourites to replace him, and Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and the fans will be praying that he isn’t tempted by the opportunity to manage one of the biggest clubs in the world.

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3/11/2017 | 10:30pmThere is a tendency in the football world for players to be linked with moves away once they start performing well at their respective clubs.Harry Winks has become one of those individuals as the London Evening Standard reports that Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez has been left impressed by the midfielder.The Barca chief is believed to have been in the stands when the 21-year-old helped Spurs earn a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu earlier this month in the Champions League.Winks was one of the stars of the show, and the midfielder put on another decent display when the team defeated Los Blancos 3-1 at Wembley on Wednesday.The report does not state that Barcelona will swoop any time soon for the homegrown talent, but with the likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli also getting linked elsewhere, it is no big surprise that Winks would attract similar interest.Tottenham fans, though, do not seem worried about the speculation.I for one am not going to lose a Winks sleep over who Barcelona fancy from us this week! 💤😂👌🏽— Rico Hernandez Suavé (@FormallyRicky) November 3, 2017We're not gonna have any players left, Tom— Matt (@majdeano85) November 3, 2017the stuff that gets made up is hilarious. Just when u think uv heard it all 🙈.— Danny Clark (@TheMilkyBarYid) November 3, 2017More lazy journalism 🙂— Newquay Branch (@Newquay_branch) November 3, 2017Ha ha and so it begins 🤣— Rubbsey40 (@rubbsey40) November 3, 2017Tom you seem a reasonable man in the 'media' can you just summarise for me? Poch Alli Kane to Madrid Eriksen Winks to Barca Rose to Manchester have I missed anything? #THFC— James Cooper (@JimmyBCooper) November 3, 2017Here we go, another impressive result & the media are trying to sell Harry Winks to Barca & Poch is off to Madrid. Bore off ffs😴 #THFC #COYS— Cory Clark (@coryscoys) November 3, 2017

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3/11/2017 | 10:00pmTottenham Hotspur midfielder Harry Winks has caught the eye of Barcelona, according to the London Evening Standard.What’s the story?There is no denying that Winks has caused many football figures to stand up and take notice.The 21-year-old put in stellar displays in both Champions League group games against Real Madrid.The London Evening Standard reports that Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez attended Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Madrid at the Bernabeu, initially casting an eye over Christian Eriksen.However, the Barcelona man, as well as some of his colleagues who was at the reverse fixture at Wembley, were reportedly impressed by Winks.Should Tottenham fans be worried?There are no indications that Barca are seriously considering a move for the Tottenham midfielder.If anything were to transpire, it may not be the wisest decision for Winks to move to the Camp Nou at this stage of his career.The youngster has had to be patient after making his first-team debut last season, but due to some injuries in midfield, Winks has proven to manager Mauricio Pochettino that he deserves to be in the squad.So far in the 2017-18 campaign, the England international, who can play as a deep-lying midfielder, has made 12 appearances in all competitions.Winks may be attracting some of the world’s biggest clubs, but under Pochettino’s guidance, there is no better place for the player to continue developing.The manager has shown that he gives deserving young players a chance at the top level, and that is something that the midfielder may not receive if he moves to Spain.

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4/11/2017 | 11:00amAccording to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid are hopeful of beating Barcelona to the signature of Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho during the January transfer window.What’s the story?If it were up to Coutinho, the Brazilian international would currently be turning out in the famous Barcelona shirt.Indeed, the 25-year-old, who is valued at £58.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, did his best to engineer a move to Camp Nou during the summer transfer window, even handing in a transfer request at Anfield.Liverpool would not play ball, however, with the Reds consistently rejecting bids from Barcelona as Coutinho stayed on Merseyside beyond the end of the transfer window.It is thought that Barcelona will return with a fresh bid in January, but according to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid are hoping to jump above their rivals in the queue.The report claims that the Spanish and European champions have already made initial contact with Liverpool as they look to secure what would be a spectacular deal.Why are Real Madrid so keen?It would have been easy for Coutinho to sulk at Liverpool in the early stages of the 2017-18 campaign, but the Brazilian has scored four times and provided three assists in nine appearances for the Reds this season.It remains to be seen whether the former Inter Milan playmaker is an elite footballer, but there is no question that he would improve what is a wounded Real Madrid.Los Blancos failed to replace the likes of James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata during the summer, and Zinedine Zidane’s side have now lost their last two games in all competitions – 2-1 at Girona last weekend and 3-1 at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.Real Madrid are in desperate need of some fresh blood in the final third of the field, and Coutinho could easily slot into one of the wide positions for the capital giants.Liverpool are expected to hold out for in excess of £100m for Coutinho, and a spectacular battle for his services between the two powerhouses of Spanish football could well be about to take place.

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4/11/2017 | 10:45amAccording to Don Balon, Manchester United will move for Real Madrid attacker Marco Asensio at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.What’s the story?Despite being just 21 years of age, Asensio is already one of the most valuable players in European football.The Spain international scored 10 times in 38 appearances for Real Madrid during the 2016-17 campaign, and has already netted six goals in 17 appearances this term.The attacker only signed a new long-term contract with the Spanish and European champions in September, but according to Don Balon, Asensio’s deal includes a release clause of £75m, which has attracted the interest of Man United.It seems unlikely that Asensio would be interested in leaving Real Madrid at this stage of his career, but there is no smoke without fire, and Man United certainly have the credentials to entice the brilliant attacker to Old Trafford at the end of the season.Could Man United really sign him?It could be argued that any player that leaves Real Madrid is stepping down a level, but Man United are one of the few clubs in world football that can match up to Los Blancos.Should the Red Devils activate the £75m release clause, it would be up to Asensio to decide whether he wanted to try his hand in the Premier League.According to Don Balon, Asensio is a little concerned with his lack of starts this season. Indeed, the Spaniard has actually only played 45 minutes of Champions League football this term.Real Madrid might be the holders of the Spanish title and European crown, but Zinedine Zidane’s side have struggled in recent weeks, and it promises to be a fascinating few weeks at the Bernabeu.There is no question that Real Madrid will be desperate to keep Asensio, but it would be up to the player if Man United were prepared to spend £75m next summer.

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6/11/2017 | 01:20pmReal Madrid feel that Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is the biggest obstacle in their pursuit of Dele Alli, according to Marca.What’s the story?It is not the first time that the midfielder has been linked with a big-money move to Spain, and it is unlikely to be the last.Alli took time to find form this season, but he was one of the standout players in a recent 3-1 victory over Madrid in the Champions League at Wembley.The 21-year-old scored twice, showing that he can cut it on the elite stage, just two years after signing for Spurs from MK Dons.According to Marca, Alli has impressed Real club president Florentino Perez, but the club feel that Levy will provide a stumbling block.How crucial could Levy be in keeping Alli?A chairman at any football club plays a pivotal role with regards to transfer spending, but it is Levy’s approach that has given him a reputation.The businessman is known for being very shrewd having forced a then-world record £85m from Madrid for the sale of Gareth Bale in 2013.The saga went on for weeks, with Levy seemingly not backing down in his valuation of the player.With regards to Alli and all of Tottenham’s top players, it is highly unlikely that the chairman will allow any of them to leave for anything less than an astronomical figure.Levy could end up being a huge reason why certain players remain at the North London outfit.

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7/11/2017 | 03:28pmAccording to Mundo Deportivo, Arsenal will revive their interest in Barcelona midfielder Rafinha when the January transfer window opens for business.What’s the story?Arsenal were strongly linked with a move for Rafinha during the summer, but could not come to an agreement with Barcelona over the transfer of the 24-year-old.Rafinha, who is valued at £13.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, is still recovering from the knee injury that saw him miss the end of last season, meaning that he has not yet featured under the leadership of Ernesto Valverde.The midfielder’s father Mazinho claimed last month that the Brazilian would not be leaving Camp Nou at the start of 2018, but according to Mundo Deportivo, Arsenal will test Barcelona’s resolve with a move in the winter window.It could be argued that Rafinha is similar to a number of players currently at the club, but with Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere all out of contract at the end of the 2017-18 campaign, it would not be a surprise to see a midfielder arrive in January.Would he be a good signing for Arsenal?As mentioned, Rafinha missed the end of last season with a knee injury, but he did find the back of the net seven times in 28 appearances.A loan spell at Celta Vigo during the 2013-14 campaign saw Rafinha return to Barcelona a better player, and he made 36 appearances for the Catalan giants during the 2014-15 season.The 24-year-old is not said to be in the long-term plans of Valverde, however, which has led to suggestions of interest from Juventus and Liverpool.Arsenal fans will feel that they need a presence in the middle of the park rather than another technically gifted midfielder, but Rafinha would bring class and flair to a team that are facing the possibility of missing out on the top four in the Premier League once again.With Barcelona said to be keen to sell, there could well be a bargain available for the Gunners.

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7/11/2017 | 04:38pmAccording to Diario Gol, Arsenal have identified Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas as the perfect replacement for the ageing Petr Cech.What’s the story?Cech will certainly be remembered as one of the best goalkeepers to play in the Premier League, but there is no getting away from the fact that the 35-year-old has struggled to produce his best form in the early stages of the 2017-18 season.It is not a surprise that Arsenal are looking to the future, and according to Diario Gol, the capital giants want Real Madrid stopper Navas to be their new number one.The 30-year-old has been Los Blancos’ first-choice goalkeeper in each of the last three seasons, but talk of David de Gea joining from Manchester United will not go away, with many believing that the deal will finally happen next summer.If that occurred, Navas would surely move on, and it would not be a surprise to see the Costa Rica international pitch up in the Premier League.Would Navas be a good signing for Arsenal?With Real Madrid actively trying to sign De Gea over the last three years, it would be easy to assume that Navas was struggling at the Bernabeu.That is simply not the case, however, with the former Levante stopper proving a dependable performer between the sticks.It is true that Navas, who is valued at £16.2m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has made the odd mistake, but the goalkeeper has also made a series of outstanding saves, especially in big matches.The 30-year-old came close to joining Man United in the summer of 2015 in a deal that would have seen De Gea move in the opposite direction, but a faulty fax machine saw the move fall through.The thought of Navas arriving at the Emirates Stadium might not excite too many of the Arsenal supporters, but he is a terrific goalkeeper, and played a key role in Real Madrid winning the Champions League and La Liga last season.

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8/11/2017 | 07:20amWhenever a manager gets sacked, numerous names fill the gossip pages, and that has been the case with Everton.The Merseyside outfit are currently searching for a successor to Ronald Koeman, whose ambition in the transfer window did not match up on the pitch as he oversaw just two wins in nine Premier League games this season.As it stands, Under-23s coach David Unsworth is in charge of the first team, but it is only on an interim basis.Sky Sports News claims that Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is the number one target for Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri.The Argentine is reportedly at the very top of a list of four potential candidates, with the club’s chief willing to back the new leader with funds.Simeone has been at the helm of Atletico for the past six years, winning five trophies, including the La Liga title.The 47-year-old is also tied down to the Spanish outfit until 2020 having signed a new contract in September.The news of Everton’s rumoured interest in Simeone has, understandably, got the fans talking.Diego Simeone?! Catch yourself on, lads. #EFC— Chris Jones (@_chrisjones_) November 7, 2017More chance that Kathleen will be the next Everton manager than Diego Simeone #efc— GP (@GCP1989) November 7, 2017Simeone to Everton with the money we have it's realistic, but we're Everton which makes it unrealistic. Sadly #EFC— Adam Oakes (@imagineadam97) November 7, 2017Simeone's appointment may be a pipe dream, but it's great to see the club still showing ambition. #efc— Elliott Cuff (@CuffWrites) November 7, 2017money talks and the man backing us has plenty. The man backing our man has even more ! #moshiri #Simeone #efc— Coop (@Holocene1878) November 7, 2017Simeone? 😂like he’s gonna manage us and leave a champions league, title challenging club…absolutely ridiculous #EFC— Kris Dalston (@KrebbyD14) November 7, 2017Apparently Moshri wants Simeone as next manager? More chance of me getting Margot Robbie to meet me in KFC to share a bargain bucket #EFC— Mark Bagnall (@Baggy4) November 7, 2017Can’t wait til Alexis Sanchez is running down the wing at Goodison with Simeone going mental on the touchline. Just what we’re missing👌 #EFC— Michael Rutherford (@MRutherford_24) November 7, 2017Simeone is my no1 choice too for #efc, but i would get his face tattoo'd on my body if it happens. And my body is a temple…#nothappening— M_rtin J_hn Gr_ves (@marty_mcfly27) November 7, 2017Simeone eh. Let's not get excited, it's always the hope that kills us #EFC— Lindsey (@LindseyC1878) November 7, 2017

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8/11/2017 | 07:00amEverton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri has placed Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone as his number one target to replace Ronald Koeman, according to Sky Sports News.What’s the word?The Merseyside outfit have had Under-23s coach David Unsworth in charge since the dismissal of Koeman, who guided the team to just two wins in nine Premier League games.It seems, though, that the board have other targets in mind for the full-time position.Sky Sports News claims that Moshiri has included Simeone as one of four potential candidates for the job, and the Argentine sits at the top of the list.The report adds that the Atletico boss, who has been in charge of the Spanish club since 2011, is happy in his current position after making a U-turn and signing a new contract in September.Are Everton good enough for Simeone?Given that the 47-year-old is used to challenging for league titles and Champions League trophies, moving to a club with Everton’s current predicament would be a shock.As it stands, the Toffees are just two points above the relegation zone after picking up just three wins in 11 outings.If Simeone was to come in, he would be tasked with boosting morale and dragging the club up the table.While the Argentine may be equipped to doing so, it would not make sense for him to leave Atletico mid-season, particularly as the club currently sit fourth in La Liga.It is important for Everton to aim high, but targeting Simeone is too ambitious.

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8/11/2017 | 09:40amFootball pundit Paul Merson has suggested that Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone would consider taking over Everton.According to Sky Sports News, Toffees majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri has selected the Argentine as a candidate among a list of four.The broadcaster claims that Sam Allardyce, Marco Silva and David Unsworth, who is currently in temporary charge of the team, are also options.Simeone has been the main man at Atletico since 2011, and in the last six years, he has guided the club to five trophies, including the La Liga title.Atleti have come closest to challenging Spain’s elite giants Real Madrid and Barcelona over the last few years.At the moment, the club sit fourth in the domestic table and remain in the Champions League, but have an outside of chance of reaching the last 16.While some have suggested that moving to Everton would be a step down for Simeone, Merson thinks that it could be the best way for the 47-year-old to enter the Premier League.The former Arsenal man said on The Debate:“This is where it has taken Simeone now. People are saying he might be a bit big for the club but he’s been around a long time, Atletico Madrid are not the team they were and they are falling behind a bit.“He’ll look at the Premier League and think ‘right, I’m not going to be manager of Liverpool, Man City or Arsenal, maybe Chelsea’ and all of a sudden, Everton are the next best thing. Even with where they are, they are the next biggest club with money and big wages, then he’s in the Premier League.”

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8/11/2017 | 09:00amManchester United target Antoine Griezmann has told Barcelona that he will sign for the club as long as he is regarded as their star man, according to Diario Gol.What’s the story?The France international was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford in the summer.It was widely reported that Griezmann had chosen to join Jose Mourinho’s team, but the forward ended up staying at Atletico Madrid after the club’s transfer ban was imposed.Now, rumours in Spain are rumbling that Barcelona could be an option for the 26-year-old.Diario Gol claims that Griezmann has told the Catalan giants that he is open to moving to the Camp Nou, but only if he becomes the team’s main man.What should United do?If the attacking star was previously willing to move to Old Trafford, then United should reignite their interest.Even if Barcelona’s interest is genuine, the Red Devils are capable of competing with the La Liga side, both in ambition and wages.Romelu Lukaku was Mourinho’s big buy in the summer and he proved to be the right choice considering that the striker scored 15 goals in his first 12 games in all competitions.In his last seven outings, the Belgian has registered two assists, but he has failed to find the back of the net.If United also had Griezmann in their ranks, a dip in goalscoring form from Lukaku would not be hugely noticeable.It is worthwhile jumping back in the market for the Atletico star, but United need to be wary of the player potentially using the club to get a better offer elsewhere.

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8/11/2017 | 03:14pmAccording to The Express, Real Madrid are preparing a January swoop for Manchester United attacker Juan Mata.What’s the story?Mata has started seven Premier League matches for United this season, but the Spaniard was left out of the squad for Sunday’s trip to Chelsea.The 29-year-old has only managed one goal in 12 appearances for the Red Devils this season, and with his contract expiring next summer, there are huge question marks surrounding the attacker’s future at Old Trafford.According to The Express, Mata’s situation in Manchester has alerted Real Madrid, who want to boost their squad in January after a difficult start to the 2017-18 campaign.Indeed, Los Blancos failed to replace the likes of Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez during the summer, and it is understood that president Florentino Perez will make funds available during the January transfer window.Mata, who is valued at £27m by transfermarkt.co.uk, spent three years at Real Madrid during his youth, but never represented the first team at the Bernabeu – moving on to Valencia before switching to the Premier League.Would United sell in January?There is a reason why so few major deals take place in January, with clubs uncomfortable with selling at the start of the year. Mata is out of contract next summer, however, meaning that he could leave United on a free.According to The Express, United could be willing to listen to offers at the start of 2018, whilst the player himself is interested in talking to the Spanish champions.Mata is a favourite with the United fans, but he has been substituted in each of his 11 starts this season, and has found it difficult to make his mark in a wide position.A move to Real Madrid would also boost Mata’s chances of making the Spain squad for the 2018 World Cup.It would seem a strange move for United to sell one of their most experienced players at the mid-point of the season, but with no new contract on the table, the deal might make financial sense.

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8/11/2017 | 04:33pmBarcelona forward Luis Suarez has said that former Liverpool teammate Philippe Coutinho would thrive if he made the move to Camp Nou.Coutinho, 25, was strongly linked with Barcelona during the summer, and handed in a transfer request at Anfield in a bid to force the move.Liverpool were not prepared to do business with the Catalan giants, however, and rejected at least two bids in excess of £100m for the Brazil international.Coutinho is expected to push once again when the January transfer window opens for business, and Suarez has spoken of his admiration for his former teammate.Suarez told Mundo Deportivo:“Obviously he must have because he’s a player who has ambition and any player would want to come to Barca.“I know him as a person and as a player because I played with him, but everyone knows what Coutinho can contribute. He is a footballer, who today, plays at a very high level.”Coutinho, who is valued at £58.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has scored four times and provided three assists in nine appearances for the Reds this season.Barcelona eventually signed Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund after missing out on Coutinho, but it is thought that the La Liga leaders are still in the hunt for the former Inter Milan playmaker.

According to the Daily Mirror, Jose Mourinho is keen to add Samuel Umtiti to his Manchester United squad this January.What’s the Story?After giving up on his pursuit to land Raphael Varane from Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho is looking at another French defender to join Manchester United this January. The man who is attracting the interest of the Portuguese manager is Samuel Umtiti, who is currently plying his trade at Barcelona.With new signing at Old Trafford Victor Lindelof failing to impress thus far and Luke Shaw clearly out of Mourinho’s thoughts for selection, United need to strengthen at the back.Umtiti, who is valued at £27million by Transfermarkt, reportedly has a £53million buyout clause in his Barcelona contract, a sum that Mourinho deems affordable.Should Manchester United sign Umtiti?It took a little while for the 23-year-old Frenchman to establish himself at Barcelona. However, he is now a mainstay of the side and has already played over 50 games for the Catalan club since signing in the summer of 2016.A perfect modern centre-half, Umtiti is quick, astute with ball at his feet and very intelligent. A partnership with current United defender Eric Bailly would be truly intimidating and would offer a solid foundation for Mourinho’s team to work from.Signing a player like Umtiti would also be beneficial for Manchester United due to the fact that he can play at left-back as well as centre-half. Given that the aforementioned Luke Shaw looks likely to move on, the club need some competition in that area of the field and Umtiti would certainly provide that.

Despite being held in high regard by almost all Liverpool fans who remember his time at the club, Luis Suarez’ latest comments may lose him some serious credibility amongst the Anfield faithful.Speaking to ​Mundo Deportivo, Suarez was asked about Philippe Coutinho and the incessant rumours linking the Brazilian with a move to Barcelona;“Obviously he must have wanted (to leave) because he is a player who has ambition and any player would want to come to Barcelona. He went through a difficult and very complicated moment but as a professional he has continued to show how good a player he is and the personal quality he has. Despite trying to leave Liverpool he continued helping the team and working. He is demonstrating as a professional who has the ambition to take a step further.”After hearing what their former player had to say on the matter, Liverpool fans were not happy and took to Twitter to express their displeasure;Suarez needs to shut up… https://t.co/BOnHXyvxNI— Coutinho🇧🇷 (@LFC_Coutinho7) November 8, 2017What gets me is people still celebrate 🎉 Suarez hang on his every word and all he is doing is tapping up coutinho for Barca starting the whole affair again 😡😡😡— Lfc_Talk_Podcast (@lfc_talk_pod) November 8, 2017Suarez is just a hypocrite. Has no respect for Liverpool. #LFC https://t.co/tAf8TS3jCs— NK (@SmartestNk) November 8, 2017Shut up you rat #Suarez https://t.co/GdJB2typ5Z— Keyur Sapra (@KSapLFC) November 8, 2017suarez was never loyal to Liverpool he turned his back on us and pretended to love us wn @LFC refused to sell him— Antony Mamvura (@AntonyMamvura) November 8, 2017Carry on calling Suarez an Lfc legend ..#TUT https://t.co/F7ejsbF9MP— Grizz (@GrizzKhan) November 8, 2017

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9/11/2017 | 11:00amAccording to reports on Spanish website El Gol Digital, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao are all interested in signing Newcastle United midfielder Mikel Merino next summer and believe that he could be purchased for around €20m (approximately £17.7m).What’s the word, then?Well, even though the Magpies only completed a permanent deal for the 21-year-old – who signed a five-year contract – last month after he initially joined them on loan from Borussia Dortmund during the summer transfer window, he is already being linked with a move to his homeland.El Gol Digital says the Tyneside outfit are already aware of interest from a number of La Liga clubs and they point to Newcastle’s reported interest in Atlanta United midfielder Miguel Almiron as a sign that the Premier League club are already preparing for the Spanish starlet’s exit.Merino has made a huge impact already for Rafa Benitez’s men this season – but he could be out until 2018 with a back injury after he missed their last two top flight matches and withdrew from the Spain U21 squad this week.How good has he been this season?He has been excellent, and the fact that Newcastle decided to make his loan move permanent so soon after he initially joined them proves that.As well as forming a strong partnership with the likes of Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden in the middle of the park, he has shown his defensive contribution with 14 clearances and 14 interceptions in nine Premier League appearances, according to Squawka.However, he has also shown he can be effective going forward too and as well as scoring the winning goal in the 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace at St James’ Park last month, he has also shown his qualities on the ball by successfully completing 13 of the 17 take-ons he has attempted.Would Newcastle really sell him next summer?While the Magpies certainly wouldn’t want to sell the player considering he has only recently joined them on a long-term deal, but of course they could be tempted if they receive a huge offer for the 21-year-old.However, it would have to be far higher than the £17.7m that El Gol Digital are suggesting in their report.

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9/11/2017 | 02:20pmAccording to reports on Spanish website El Gol Digital, Newcastle United midfielder Mikel Merino is a target for La Liga trio Barcelona, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, and Magpies fans have been quick to have their say on the rumour.El Gol Digital says that the Spanish clubs believe they can get the 21-year-old for around €20m (approximately £17.7m) next summer, despite the fact that the Tyneside only signed him on a permanent basis last month following an impressive start to his loan spell from Borussia Dortmund.The Spain U21 international penned a five-year contract at St James’ Park and he has quickly become a key player in central midfield for Rafa Benitez’s men, even scoring the winning goal in the 1-0 victory at home to Crystal Palace in October.Newcastle supporters took to social media to give their verdict on the rumour, and while one simply said “what a joke”, another said “if Mikel goes it would be the start of the end for Rafa”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…Didn't he already reject Bilbao to come to us? He's bound to end up at one of the top clubs eventually, but not yet. We've really unearthed a gem here— Hello, I am Nicky (@ORANGEYPURPLE) November 8, 2017Can't see him leaving this season… 😬— Baz Latimer (@baz_lat) November 9, 2017International break and all the bs stories are out. Ings linked now Merino away! Oh Carroll rtns yay silly season reporting per usual.— carl (@Ccsh007Carl) November 8, 2017Wat only 17.6 mil, he worth more than that !!!! We miss him big time !!!— Chris (@smartassunit) November 8, 2017If Mikel goes it would be the start of the end for Rafa. #NUFC Players like Merino are what managers build their team on.Can't see him going anywhere.— Mark Jobson (@seat87Area_N) November 9, 2017£17.6m? 🤣🤣🤣 sound 👍🏼 prices these days? U21 Spanish international? Rippin it up in the prem? #tryfiftymill— Chris Hall (@Chris_Hall1312) November 8, 2017No deal.— MatthewLaidlow (@MatthewLaidlow) November 8, 2017Haha what a joke— OnlyToon (@OnlyToonArmy) November 9, 2017I'd hope we'd ask for a massive amount more than that and actually keep him to build a team around.— Simon (@LittleHenryD) November 8, 2017

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9/11/2017 | 04:40pmChelsea star Eden Hazard is open to joining Real Madrid, but only if he is guaranteed first-team football, according to Don Balon.What’s the story?It is rare for the Belgian not to be linked to the Spanish giants when a transfer window is around the corner.The latest development in the saga comes from Don Balon, which reports that Hazard could move to the Bernabeu, but on one condition.It is believed that the 26-year-old wants to be guaranteed first-team football from manager Zinedine Zidane before signing on the dotted line.Hazard has made 13 appearances in all competitions this season after recovering from ankle surgery, and has scored three goals and created two assists in that time.How would this affect Conte?The Italian did not have the summer transfer window that he would have hoped for.The club’s strategy led to reports that the ex-Juventus boss could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge, but he dispelled the rumours by signing a new two-year deal.Chelsea’s chances of retaining the Premier League title have taken a hit as they currently reside nine points adrift of unbeaten leaders Manchester City.Losing Hazard would massively deplete the squad, and it could play a pivotal role in whether Conte continues on as manager, such is the midfielder’s importance.The Blues were criticised in the summer for allowing Nemanja Matic to join rivals Manchester United, and Conte does not want to find himself in a similar position.

According to The Metro, Arsenal are ready to battle Real Madrid for the signing of Goalkeeper Kepa from Athletic Bilbao.What’s the Story?Growing speculation is mounting in Spain suggesting that Kepa, Athletic Bilbao’s 23-year-old Goalkeeper is being tracked by Arsenal, who may consider the player a long-term replacement for Petr Cech.However, Real Madrid are also reportedly interested in the Spanish star and could make a move for Kepa, if they fail in their final attempt to land David De Ga from Manchester United.Arsenal will be looking to strengthen their options in goal, with Petr Cech entering the twilight years of his career. With David Ospina not a viable first-team replacement and Emiliano Martinez not considered good enough to take the number one shirt, Kepa could well be an affordable option, if his £7.2million Transfermarkt valuation is anything to go by.How good has Kepa been this season?Over the past 18 months, Kepa has firmly established himself as the first choice stopper for an ever improving Athletic side.The 23-year-old has featured in 10 of the Basque clubs’ 11 domestic games and has impressed with his composure and maturity in spite of his age.Kepa is also starting to develop a string passing game, which seems to be a key element of the modern goalkeeper. His distribution is fantastic and his concentration when receiving the ball at his feet is tantamount to an outfield player.Arsene Wenger would be wise to act fast in claiming Kepa, who could well be a star of the future.

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10/11/2017 | 03:00pmAccording to reports on Spanish website El Gol Digital, Newcastle United could make a January move for Barcelona goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen as he looks to strengthen his squad.What’s the word, then?Well, El Gol Digital says that Magpies manager Rafa Benitez has shown an interest in Real Sociedad stopper Geronimo Rulli, who is expected to leave the Basque outfit next summer, but he may not wait until then if he can sign Cillessen from Barca in the New Year.The 28-year-old has been the La Liga giants’ second-choice goalkeeper under Ernesto Valverde this term, and an exit seems likely sooner rather than later in order for him to play regularly.El Gol Digital says that Benitez is willing to hand him that chance, having failed with moves for the likes of Pepe Reina and Willy Caballero during the summer transfer window.How has Cillessen fared this season?Not too well.While he made 10 appearances in all competitions for the Catalan club last season, he has been limited to just one outing – in the Copa del Rey at the end of October – this term with Marc-Andre ter Stegen the undoubted number one.The Dutchman will certainly be frustrated at his lack of opportunities, and may well feel that he needs to leave the Camp Nou to get regular game time.Would he be a good signing for Newcastle?He certainly would be.While the 28-year-old has struggled to break into the starting XI at Barcelona you don’t earn a move there unless you have something special about you, and the Netherlands international was an impressive performer for Ajax previously, while he is a starter for his country.Cillessen kept 63 clean sheets in 143 matches for the Dutch giants, conceding 119 goals, and WhoScored.com says his strengths are in his reflexes, saving both close and long-range shots and his concentration.Would the addition be harsh on Rob Elliot?It probably would be as the 31-year-old has only conceded 10 goals in 11 Premier League matches this term having got the nod from Benitez to be his first-choice goalkeeper this season.However, if Newcastle want to push on and avoid being sucked into relegation battles in the future then they need to consistently strengthen their squad, and bringing in Cillessen would be a huge statement of intent.

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11/11/2017 | 09:45amAccording to the Daily Mail, Liverpool attacker Philippe Coutinho is not interested in joining Paris Saint-Germain as he holds out for a move to Barcelona.What’s the story?If it were up to Coutinho, the Brazil international would be a Barcelona player as things stand. It is as simple as that.The Spanish giants were strongly linked with the 25-year-old during the summer, and it is thought that Coutinho handed in a transfer request at Liverpool in a bid to force a move.The Reds were not prepared to play ball, however, and rejected at least one bid in excess of £100m for the former Inter Milan youngster.It is understood that Barcelona are still interested in signing Coutinho, but PSG are now believed to be in the hunt as the Ligue 1 leaders look to splash the cash once again.That said, according to the Daily Mail, Coutinho, who is valued at £58.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, is simply not interested in moving to Paris as he holds out for his dream move to Barcelona.Will Coutinho leave Anfield in January?It is a tough question. The fact that Liverpool refused to sell during the summer means that it is difficult to imagine Coutinho leaving in the middle of the campaign.It would have been easy for Coutinho to sulk at Liverpool this season, but in fairness to the attacker, he has performed pretty well – scoring four times and providing three assists in nine appearances in all competitions.According to the Daily Mail, Barcelona will make a £106m bid for Coutinho in the January transfer window, and if that does occur, Liverpool will surely have to accept.There is a reason why so few major deals occur during the winter transfer window, however, which means that both parties might have to wait until next summer.PSG are clearly interested in signing Coutinho, but it seems that the Brazilian only wants to leave Liverpool to seal a dream move to Barcelona.

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11/11/2017 | 10:33amAccording to AS, Atletico Madrid are closely monitoring Ander Herrera’s contract developments at Manchester United.What’s the story?Herrera picked up the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award last season after impressing during a campaign that saw him make 50 appearances in all competitions.It had been claimed that the Spaniard could become United’s new captain following Wayne Rooney’s departure, but that honour was ultimately given to Michael Carrick.Herrera, who is valued at £27m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has played plenty of football in recent weeks, but he struggled for action in the early stages of the campaign when Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini were both available.Nemanja Matic and Pogba were Jose Mourinho’s first picks in central midfield in the early weeks, with Fellaini next in line. That left Herrera well down the pecking order as he went from key man to a player that was struggling for football.Incredibly, Herrera’s contract at United will expire next summer, and according to AS, Atletico are closely monitoring developments at Old Trafford as the La Liga giants consider poaching the Spaniard on a free transfer.Surely he could not leave on a free?As it stands, Herrera would be able to enter into a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club when the January transfer window opens for business, which is incredible for a player that is just 28, and has a whole host of experience at the highest level.It is thought that contract talks are underway, but Herrera would surely want guarantees over his future at Old Trafford before signing a new deal.When Mourinho has a fully-fit squad, Herrera does not make the first XI. That places the midfielder in a difficult situation at this stage of his career.Atletico are currently banned from registering new players, but that situation changes at the start of 2018, and having already tied up a deal for Diego Costa, Herrera could be the next Premier League player to make the move to Madrid.It is three years since Herrera left his homeland for United, and despite being a favourite of the club’s supporters, his future at the club is extremely uncertain.

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12/11/2017 | 03:30pmAccording to reports in The Mirror, Southampton have been alerted to the news that out of favour Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres is interested in making a Premier League return.What’s the word, then?Well, The Mirror says that Torres is eyeing a Premier League swansong following spells with Liverpool and Chelsea earlier in his career, with first-team opportunities hard to come by under Diego Simeone this term having featured for just 182 minutes in La Liga.With Diego Costa eligible to play in the second-half of the campaign following his move from Chelsea, The Mirror says that Torres fears he will hardly feature for the Spanish outfit in 2018.The report adds that the 33-year-old’s representatives have let Southampton and their Premier League rivals Newcastle United know that he is keen to leave on loan in January, and he is hoping that one of them will hand him a deal until the end of the season.Why would Southampton want him?Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino will be desperate to strengthen his attacking options during the January transfer window with his team scoring just nine goals in 11 Premier League matches this season, and The Mirror says he knows Torres well having worked as Benitez’s assistant when Torres was at Anfield.While he is approaching the end of his career and his spell with Chelsea was disappointing, the 33-year-old has shown throughout his career that he is a world-class striker on his day and he would bring some much-needed experience and goal threat to the Saints frontline.Could they get him?Whereas Southampton will probably want to make a permanent addition in the New Year – as they did with Manolo Gabbiadini in January of this year – it isn’t always possible to get the player you want for a reasonable price.Therefore a loan deal until the end of the season – when Torres is keen to return to his hometown club for the final year of his Atletico contract – could be an attractive option even in the short team and it is a name that would boost the St Mary’s faithful who have become bored with their team’s displays.However, the fact that Newcastle are managed by Benitez could make a deal difficult, while his salary demands could also be an issue considering The Mirror says they would have to pay part of his annual £2.2m salary.

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12/11/2017 | 04:30pmAccording to reports in The Mirror, Newcastle United are keen on signing out of favour Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres on a short-term loan deal during the January transfer window.What’s the word, then?Well, The Mirror says that Torres is keen on a final Premier League swansong after finding first-team minutes hard to come by with the La Liga giants this season.The Mirror reports that the 33-year-old is keen to return to the English top flight for the second-half of the campaign with Diego Costa able to play from January onwards, with the centre-forward’s representatives letting the Magpies and Southampton know of his potential availability on loan.The report adds that the former Liverpool and Chelsea man is hoping that one of the two will be able to offer him a package that will allow him to return to England before he spends the last season of his contract with his hometown club, as they will need to take on part of his £2.2m annual salary.How has Torres done this season?The Spaniard has found game time hard to come by and despite making 10 appearances in all competitions – without finding the net – that has only included 332 minutes on the pitch and just 182 minutes in La Liga.Why would Newcastle want him?While the Magpies have made a decent start to the season, they have scored just 10 goals in their opening 11 Premier League matches this term and that is a record that they will need to improve if they want to stay out of trouble.Summer addition Joselu has done well but has only netted twice, while Dwight Gayle has struggled to get into the starting XI and Aleksandar Mitrovic appears to be out of favour.It is clear that Benitez needs to strengthen his attacking options and while his spell with Chelsea was disappointing, Torres has shown throughout his career that he can be a big goal threat.Would he be a good signing?It’s difficult to say.While he has shown world-class finishing ability in the past, the fact that he is 33 years of age means he may not be quite as sharp as he used to be.However, signing him would still boost the squad and the St James’ Park faithful and on a short-term loan there isn’t really anything to lose.

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12/11/2017 | 05:30pmAccording to reports in The Mirror, Southampton have reportedly been alerted to the news that Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres could be available in January, and Saints fans have been quick to have their say on the rumour.The Mirror says that the 33-year-old is keen to play regularly in the second-half of the campaign having found first-team minutes hard to come by this term, and his representatives have told the south coast outfit and Premier League rivals Newcastle United about his potential availability.Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino will be keen to strengthen his attacking options in the New Year with his team scoring just nine times in their 11 top flight matches this season, with the former Liverpool and Chelsea centre-forward seemingly a target.Southampton supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the story, and while one simply said “as if he’d come to Saints”, another said the move would be “10 years too late”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…you do know it november and not april the 1st lol— richard geddes (@richardgeddes83) November 12, 2017😂.. 10 years too late.— Andrew Davis (@andydavis1978) November 12, 2017He can attract more star players also coz who doesn't wanna play along side a top player like Torres but I don't think he will leave Atletico his probably gonna retire there.— ʝσѕнυα 🎱 (@josh17YSL) November 12, 2017Would rather we called back one of our youngsters tbh— Aaron Neilson (@Born1990) November 12, 2017As if he’d come to saints😂— ChloeeSFC⚽️♥️ (@Gedz04) November 12, 2017Utter nonsense ffs— Mathew Vincent (@MathewMraz) November 12, 2017Hope not. @Sfcsamo— Stuart Lark (@Larky78) November 12, 2017A loan move wud be a gud deal.— Joѕнυa (@underpaxt) November 12, 2017

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12/11/2017 | 06:00pmAccording to reports in The Mirror, Newcastle are considering signing out of favour Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres during the January transfer window, and Magpies fans have been quick to have their say on the rumour.The Mirror says that the 33-year-old is keen for a Premier League swansong in the second-half of the campaign after finding first-team opportunities hard to come by this term, with the centre-forward’s representatives telling the Tyneside outfit and Southampton that he could be available on loan.The former Liverpool and Chelsea man worked under Magpies boss Rafa Benitez during his successful spell with Anfield, and the Spanish boss is likely to want to strengthen his attacking options in the New Year.Newcastle supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the story, and while one said he is “better than what we have”, another said he would be “a moronic signing”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…Torres is finished— mark vickers (@markvickers10) November 12, 2017Scored 8 last year and was second or third choice behind Griezman and Gamerio. He’s proved in his career he needs consistent starts to score— davidlabelle7 (@david_labelle) November 5, 201733 years old and not been a consistent goal scorer for years, he was amazing at Liverpool but Chelsea messed him up.— chris surtees (@csurtees1969) November 5, 2017As an Atléti support, I hope not. Nowhere near quality enough ay the moment— Paul Kearney (@One_True_Czar) November 12, 2017He’s better than anything we’ve got.— The Honest Johns (@TheHonestJohns) November 12, 2017No thanks— NoRealTalent (@GingeroHurstez) November 12, 2017It’s just a moronic signing.— Grim (@GrimGarry) November 12, 2017Is it wrong that I still believe he can do a job? He was supported by Gerrard and Alonso, running on to long balls, Shelvey could pick him out easy!— Peter Egglestone (@StoopidMunki27) November 12, 2017

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12/11/2017 | 07:42pmAccording to reports in The Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur have been placed on alert by the fact that Real Madrid are willing to sell Gareth Bale for £85m, and Spurs fans have been quick to have their say on the rumour.The Mirror says that the Spanish giants have become increasingly frustrated at his frequent injury problems, with his latest thigh issue likely to keep him out until the New Year.The report adds that the La Liga outfit are open to offers for the 28-year-old, with Mauricio Pochettino a confirmed admirer of the former Spurs star, who scored 55 goals in 203 appearances in all competitions for the north London outfit previously.Tottenham supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the story, and while one said “he’s not worth more than £50m”, another said “he is exactly the kind of player we’re missing”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…Really think spurs would pay 85 mil for a 28 year old that wouldn’t be able to handle Poch’s training regime and would want 300,000 a week? This is such a non story it’s ridiculous— Luke Neville (@lukenev13) November 12, 2017Not for that money. Plus his wages. Have they no idea who Daniel Levy is ?— NotSoSkinnyPete 🕴🏻 (@NotSoSkinnyPete) November 12, 2017Might get on the bench I suppose….— mark skelton (@Skelly2505) November 12, 2017We shouldnt.. He is so injury prone. Not worth the money imho.— Keldinho (@Keld_Inger) November 12, 2017The only way this happens is if Levy has decided he wants one big marquee player in to make sure that NWHL is jam packed from the outset for every game. He is exactly the kind of player we are missing to send us that one notch further up toward winning the PL. incredibly unlikely— Rich (@clevvercloggs) November 12, 2017Interesting development…. I wouldnt be against this. #THFC— Fraser William Banks (@FraserBanks) November 12, 2017No way dont bother hes not worth it we dont need him and his ego— mandy taylor (@mollymandytay) November 12, 2017Do not want him— TweetySpurs (@LliyWhite_thfc) November 12, 2017He's not worth more than £50M— Aanas Zami (@aanas_zami) November 12, 2017

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13/11/2017 | 06:40amAccording to reports in The Mirror, Manchester United are among the clubs to be alerted to the fact that Real Madrid are willing to sell forward Gareth Bale for £85m, and Red Devils fans have been quick to have their say on the rumour.The Mirror says that the La Liga giants are considering cashing in on the 28-year-old after growing frustrated with his frequent injury problems, and the Welshman is set to be out until 2018 with a thigh issue.The report adds that while United and Jose Mourinho will join the race to sign the attacker, they could face competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, while Real could also ask for David De Gea as part of any deal.Man United supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the transfer story, and while one said they ‘would take him for below £50m’, another said “I’d rather have Christian Eriksen”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…No thanks, he’s like a modern day Owen “Permanently injury” Hargreaves.— Pete Jones (@Pete_Js) November 11, 2017Exclude Man United, Bale is finished— Greater.Expectations (@mr_mac_anthony) November 11, 2017Makes zero sense. He’d cost 80/90m easily— hongo (@hongo_jr) November 12, 2017No point having a £85m player that spends most of his time on the treatment table .Pity really because when fit he's a very good player .— eddie white (@1957eddie) November 12, 2017I'd rather have Christian Eriksen. Him and Pogba would create silly amounts of chances for Lukaku— Matt Barron (@VonBarronshire) November 12, 2017Not when better players for that money or will it be united love affection for bale— Fantastic matic (@CupraWayne) November 12, 2017Gareth Bale for £85m?POINTLESS signing, he’s made of pringles!Its like Ferrari signing Michael Schumacher…#MUFC— Billy Meredith (@BigPert_MUFC) November 12, 2017#MUFC
Bale refused his chance like many others. Injury prone, let Spurs have him. Certainly not worth £85 never mind 85 million.— Loucas Andreou (@landath7) November 12, 2017I used to think that Real Madrid fans were harsh on Gareth Bale. Always jeering him, hardly giving him standing ovations. As time went by i understood why u can't blame them they will be relieved to see him gone. Lets just hope we don't get any crazy ideas of signing him 😂 #mufc— Mancunian Candidate (@Po6baholic) November 12, 2017For below £50m then yeah, anything more not worth the risk. But when fit you can’t argue he’s world class— Adrian (@Adrian_tribe) November 12, 2017Why should we chase injury prone Gareth Bale? Man United Don't need him. What get on my nerves is the price,£85.— IssifuSomaila (@IssifuSomaila) November 12, 2017

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13/11/2017 | 06:20amAccording to reports in The Mirror, Chelsea have been alerted to the fact that in demand Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale could be available for £85m, and Blues fans have been quick to have their say on the rumour.The Mirror says that the La Liga giants are ready to cash in on the 28-year-old after becoming frustrated with his frequent injury problems – he is expected to be out until 2018 with a thigh issue – but the west London outfit could face competition for the Welshman’s signature from Premier League rivals Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.The report says that the Blues have shown interest in Bale previously, and they could move for him if Antonio Conte wants to strengthen his attacking options.Chelsea supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the transfer story, and while one said he “would never even play” because of his injury issues, another said ‘he’d still do more than Willian’.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…Bale LWB, Goretzka CM.We would win the UCL. #CFC https://t.co/UP5sAX5XBs— FRANCO (@franco_47nm) November 12, 2017Imagine Gareth Bale on the RW, hazard on the Left w/Morata up top. And a midfield with Kante-Ruben LC-Bakayoko🔥🔥🔥🔥 #chelsea please make it happen— bryce (@ibrycent) November 12, 2017I'd still take Bale at Chelsea— Damion Kurtis (@DMeisterrr) November 12, 2017He’d still do far more for us with the repetitive injuries than Willian does in a season lol— Los Blues (@CFCLosBlues) November 12, 2017Wouldn’t mind Bale at Chelsea but Real are going to want crazy money for him— Michyology (@DonBatshuayi) November 12, 2017No way, Bale would miss more games than he’d play and Isco wouldn’t fit our system— Loan Marina to Vitesse (@LoftusSleek) November 12, 2017Bale would never even play at chelsea… only recovering from injury , over and over again..— RFZ_#CFC (@RFZ_94) November 12, 2017Please not Chelsea!— Jackie P (@Jackie___P) November 11, 2017

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13/11/2017 | 06:00pmAccording to The Sun, Valencia are closely monitoring Marouane Fellaini’s contract situation at Manchester United as the La Liga outfit consider a move.What’s the story?There is no question that Fellaini is a favourite of United boss Jose Mourinho, but the fact of the matter is that the Belgian will soon enter the final six months of his contract at Old Trafford.There was a stage where Fellaini was almost a joke figure at United, but the 29-year-old has scored four times and provided one assist in nine appearances this term.Despite his impressive form, the midfielder will be out of contract at the end of the season, and it is understood that talks over an extension are yet to begin.According to The Sun, Valencia are keen to land Fellaini on a free transfer, and will approach the experienced midfielder at the start of 2018 with the view to tying him to a pre-contract.Surely Mourinho wants to keep him?Fellaini might not be the best player in the world, but there is a reason why Mourinho is such a big fan of the towering Belgian.There was interest from Turkey during the summer transfer window, but the United boss refused to allow the former Everton midfielder to leave due to his importance to the team.Fellaini, who is valued at £10.8m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has scored three times in seven Premier League appearances this term, and was rushed back from a knee injury to feature against Chelsea before the international break.Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata are also among those that will be out of contract at United this summer, whilst there is speculation surrounding the future of Mourinho.It is no surprise that a number of clubs are interested in signing a player of Fellaini’s experience and standing on a free transfer, but it is very hard to believe that Mourinho would allow one of his favourite players to enter January without a new contract in place.

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13/11/2017 | 10:30pmAndreas Pereira has revealed that he wants to stay at Valencia rather than return to parent club Manchester United in the January transfer window.The 21-year-old, who is valued at £4.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, joined Valencia on a season-long loan from United in the latter stages of the summer.United boss Jose Mourinho revealed shortly after that he was not entirely happy with Pereira’s decision to leave, and it has been claimed that the Red Devils could decide to recall the Belgium-born midfielder at the start of 2018.Pereira, however, has revealed that he is desperate to see out the season with Valencia having featured regularly for the Spanish outfit in the early stages of the 2017-18 campaign.Pereira told Super Deportes:“In my head I want to be here, help Valencia until June. It is the thought with which I came.“I know that I have this clause in the assignment contract and now I have to wait to see. But my mind is focused on Valencia and I want to stay here.“It is important that I am playing to grow, be better and help Valencia. It would be very difficult to return to United mid-year and continue with the same evolution that I’m having now.”Pereira has scored once and provided three assists in nine La Liga appearances for a Valencia team that sit second to Barcelona after a fine start to the season.The midfielder signed a new two-year deal at United shortly before leaving on loan.

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14/11/2017 | 11:43am
According to reports in Spanish media outlet Don Balon, Barcelona forward Lionel Messi wants the club to sign Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder Dele Alli.With Andres Iniesta coming towards the end of his career with the La Liga giants and with Ivan Rakitic turning 30 in March, the Catalan outfit may well be looking for a new number 10 either in January or next summer and Don Balon says that Messi believes that Alli should be a target.The 21-year-old will likely be on the radar of a number of the top clubs across Europe after scoring 39 goals in 109 appearances in all competitions for Spurs, including a remarkable 22 in 50 outings last term.If the England international did end up moving to the Camp Nou, Mauricio Pochettino would know that he would need to find a top class replacement, and the answer could be close to home in the form of Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who is currently on loan at Crystal Palace.Here are three reasons Tottenham should move for the Blues man if Alli leaves…

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14/11/2017 | 12:01pm
According to reports in The Mirror, Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres is eyeing a Premier League swansong, and Southampton are one of the clubs that have been alerted to his potential availability.The 33-year-old has found first-team football hard to come by for the La Liga giants this season, and The Mirror says that he is keen to come to the English top flight on loan for the second-half of the campaign before returning to Spain to spend the final year of his contract with his hometown club.Saints and Premier League rivals Newcastle United have both been informed by the former Liverpool and Chelsea centre-forward’s representatives that he could be available, and it is a proposal that could interest Mauricio Pellegrino considering his team have scored just nine league goals in 11 games this term.While the Spaniard would perhaps be a good addition on paper, the south coast outfit may be better off trying to get his attacking teammate Luciano Vietto instead.Here are three reasons Southampton must forget Torres and target the Argentine…

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15/11/2017 | 09:20amNewcastle United and West Ham United are keeping tabs on Villarreal striker Cedric Bakambu, according to Marca.What’s the story?It is not the first time that the Hammers have been linked to the Congo international, but they reportedly fell short of the club’s asking price.So far this season, Bakambu has scored nine goals in 14 outings in all competitions, and eight of those were netted in La Liga.Marca claims that Newcastle and West Ham have taken notice of the forward’s goalscoring form, while West Bromwich Albion have also been registered with an interest.It is believed that Bakambu has a release clause worth around £27m, while transfermarkt.com value the striker at £14.4m.Could Newcastle or West Ham win the race?The striker would be a great addition to either team, particularly as both are in need of a reliable goalscorer.Javier Hernandez was meant to be the solution for the Hammers, but in 13 appearances in all competitions, the Mexico international has scored four times.It is worth noting, though, that the 29-year-old was played out of position numerous times by former manager Slaven Bilic, who was replaced by David Moyes.For both West Ham and Newcastle, the biggest stumbling block is the £27m price tag.The East London outfit could not meet the valuation before, while the Magpies’ takeover situation brings uncertainty with regards to transfer budget.

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15/11/2017 | 06:57pm
According to reports by Spanish media outlet Marca, Newcastle United are one of three Premier League clubs interested in signing Villarreal striker Cedric Bakambu after his impressive start to the season.The 26-year-old has begun the campaign in fine goalscoring form, which Marca says has caught the attentions of the Magpies, West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United despite the fact that he could be a costly addition as his current deal doesn’t run out until 2022.The report says that the Irons made an unsuccessful offer of around €25m (currently £22.4m) for the Democratic Republic of Congo international during the summer, and they could reignite their interest in January with Javier Hernandez so far failing to make the impact that was perhaps expected of him.In an interview with French TV station SFR Sport 1 last week, the centre-forward expressed his desire to play in the English top flight, and Toon boss Rafa Benitez must take advantage of that wish by outbidding his Premier League rivals and offering the attacker an offer he can’t refuse to turn down in the New Year.Here are three reasons Newcastle must win the race to sign Bakambu…

According to Diario Gol, Tottenham are interested in bringing Gareth Bale back to the club, with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez desperate to offload the Welshman.What’s the Story?Following a disastrous start to Real Madrid’s latest campaign, Gareth Bale is reportedly surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu, and Tottenham are ready to make a bid to lure the Welshman, who is valued at £72million by Transfermarkt, back to his former club.However, Madrid’s president Florentino Perez will accept no less £80million for the 28-year-old, and Tottenham will not be looking to spend any more than £55million for their former star.How good has Bale been this season?If the Welshman were at any other club than Real Madrid, the start to his season would perhaps be under no scrutiny. However, the expectant club have been unimpressed with Bale, who has actually faced jeers from his own fans at the Bernabeu.To compound the former Spurs star’s misery he has been out of action for the last month with injuries and is set for a few more weeks on the sidelines.Unfortunately, his time in the famous white of Madrid may be coming to a disappointing end.Would Bale be a good signing for Tottenham?While the bullish attitude of some Tottenham fans regarding a move for Bale is understandable, the Welshman is still one of the best players in the world.Adding him to the phenomenal squad that Mauricio Pochettino is already building would turn Spurs from ‘nearly men’ in the Premier League to genuine Champions League contendors.

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16/11/2017 | 09:43am
According to reports on Spanish media outlet Marca, West Ham United are one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing in-form Villarreal striker Cedric Bakambu during the January transfer window.Marca says that the Irons made an offer for Democratic Republic of Congo international in the summer but were unable to match the price tag put on the centre-forward’s head, but they are now ready to revive their interest in the prolific 26-year-old.The report adds that the Hammers’ English top flight rivals West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United are also keeping tabs on the attacker, who has scored nine goals in 14 appearances in all competitions for the La Liga outfit so far this term.While new Irons boss David Moyes will undoubtedly be looking to strengthen his squad in the New Year considering they currently find themselves in the relegation zone, he may be better off ignoring Bakambu and targeting a deal for his club compatriot Rodrigo Hernandez.Here are three reasons West Ham should forget about the striker and sign his midfield teammate instead…

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16/11/2017 | 10:12am
Denmark thrashed the Republic of Ireland 5-1 in the second leg of their 2018 World Cup play-off in Dublin on Tuesday night to secure their spot in Russia next summer, and the performance of winger Pione Sisto would have caught the attention of a number of clubs.The Celta Vigo forward picked up two assists and was just a general nuisance to the Ireland defence throughout on what was just his 10th cap, and had it not been for Christian Eriksen’s hat-trick he would probably have picked up the man of the match award.The 22-year-old has certainly made big strides in recent years having moved to La Liga from FC Midtjylland in 2016, with Southampton well aware of his talents having come up against him in their defeat to the Danish outfit over two legs in the Europa League qualifying rounds in 2015.Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino will be looking to strengthen his attacking options during the January transfer window with his team netting just nine goals in their 11 Premier League matches so far this term, and bringing in the wide man would certainly prove to be a shrewd move.Here are three reasons Southampton should make Sisto their top January target…

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16/11/2017 | 01:45pmAccording to Sport, former Spanish champions Valencia are considering a January move for Everton forward Sandro Ramirez.What’s the story?Everton won the race to sign Sandro from Malaga during the summer, with the Spaniard moving to Goodison Park for £5.2m on a four-year contract.It would be fair to say that there was plenty of excitement surrounding the 22-year-old, who scored 14 La Liga goals during the 2016-17 campaign.Sandro, who is valued at £9m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has really struggled to settle in England, however, starting just three Premier League matches and failing to find the back of the net for the Toffees.The former Barcelona youngster is believed to be keen on returning to Spain in the January transfer window, and according to Sport, Valencia lead the race as they look to build on what has been a very impressive start to the 2017-18 campaign.Indeed, Los Che are second to Barcelona in La Liga after 11 matches of the new season.Why is Sandro struggling at Everton?It was always going to take time for Sandro to settle in the Premier League, and the circumstances surrounding the early stages of his Everton career have not exactly been ideal.Indeed, the Spaniard joined a team that had signed a number of new players, and when things started to go wrong for Ronald Koeman, Sandro’s chances of action evaporated.Having represented Barcelona’s first team on 32 occasions, there is no question that Sandro has ability, but his temperament is yet to be discovered when it comes to a battle.Much will depend on the new manager at Everton, and who arrives might well determine whether Sandro has a future at Goodison Park.Koeman was not exactly shy in revealing that he wanted to sign a recognised centre-forward during the summer, but a failed move for Olivier Giroud saw Sandro selected as the lone striker in the early weeks, which was always going to be difficult.Sandro’s numbers this season are not exactly impressive, but he deserves time to make his mark at Goodison Park.

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16/11/2017 | 05:20pmNewcastle United have started the season well as they are in touching distance of the top 10 after 11 Premier League games.Rafael Benitez’s team stormed to the Championship crown last season with goals aplenty, but they are lacking that attacking threat in the top flight.So far, the team have scored just 10 goals in the division and they have failed to find the back of the net in their last two matches, both of which they lost.Recently, The Mirror reported that Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres is keen to return to the Premier League, with Newcastle and Southampton as possible options.The 33-year-old has had limited game time at the Vicente Calderon this season having started just two matches in all competitions.Torres made a name for himself at Liverpool, but his form dwindled when he left the Reds to join Chelsea in 2011 for £50m.Newcastle legend Alan Shearer told bookmakers Coral that the striker would be a good addition to Benitez’s team, and now the fans have had their say. pic.twitter.com/M4IZ6XpxMl— Jaz340 (@Jaz340) November 16, 2017Is he not past his sell by date, esp’ for the Prem! #Torres— Jona (@JonaOnDrums) November 16, 2017I completely agree with @alanshearer that Torres would be a great signing if take over doesn’t happen.Would he get a lot more opportunities than Joselu?Probably not but how many goals would Joselu have scored with Torres finishing? #NUFC #Torres— Andy… (@Andy_Raine) November 16, 2017Never say never.— thereal andrew young (@temperamentalan) November 16, 2017Think big al been heading to many balls— Nick (@soggydishcloth) November 16, 2017Better than what we have at the minute but not the answer …… maybe 10 years ago— paul (@toonislife) November 16, 2017Can’t do any harm for short term.— Steve Bell (@NUFCSteveB) November 16, 2017Don't know what anyone else thinks but I'd take Fernando Torres on loan! #NUFC— @P (@MrPea13) November 16, 2017

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16/11/2017 | 06:55pmManchester United are interested in signing Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler, according to The Independent.What’s the story?United manager Jose Mourinho is believed to be keen on bringing in a winger after missing out on signing Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic in the summer.The Independent claims that 20-year-old Soler is on the Portuguese coach’s list, and even though he is still young, the Red Devils will be expected to pay in the region of £40m.Andreas Pereira, who is currently on loan at the Spanish outfit, could reportedly be included in a player-plus-cash deal.With the futures of certain players, including Marouane Fellaini, in doubt, Soler is likely to be added to the first-team squad.How good is he?A player at his age is usually pushing for first-team minutes rather than featuring regularly in a competitive side.So far this season, Soler has made 11 La Liga appearances and has found the back of the net on one occasion.The youngster, who can also play centrally in midfield, has created four assists in Spain’s top flight.United have dropped eight points behind rivals Manchester City in the table, and even though they remain well positioned to challenge for the title, injuries have hampered them.If Soler was to move to Old Trafford, his potential could be huge, but he may take time to settle and adapt to English football.

According to Marca (via talkSPORT), Newcastle are keen on signing Barcelona ‘keeper Jasper Cillessen, who may be available at for as little as £9million in January.What’s the Story?Reports in Spain are suggesting that Barcelona Jasper Cillessen is one of a number of players that the Catalan club are looking to sell in January, in a bid to reduce the wage budget.Such is their desire to let a number of their fringe players leave, reports state Barcelona will be happy to accept a bid of just £9million for the experienced ‘keeper.Newcastle have been on the hunt for a new first choice stopper for the last few months, with Rob Elliot currently occupying that position at St James’ Park. It is thought that Rafael Benitez would be very keen to bring Cillessen to the club. With a guaranteed place in the starting line-up, the 28-year-old Dutchman would find it hard to turn down the move.How good has Cillessen been this season?Unfortunately, due to Marc Andre Ter-Stegen’s dominance between the sticks for Barcelona, Cillessen has yet to feature for the Spanish giants so far this season.However, the former Ajax man has featured prominently for the Netherlands in their ultimately unsuccessful bid to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. While not eye-catching, Cillessen demonstrated his confidence and agility when dealing with a number of quality opposition strikers and often helped his country stay competitive with a number of great saves in important matches.Newcastle need a top goalkeeper who has years of international experience under his belt. Looking at the market, there is perhaps no better available option than Jasper Cillessen, who is valued at around £8.1million by Transfermarkt.

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19/11/2017 | 05:42pmAccording to reports in The Sun on Sunday, Manchester United are lining up a £136m double move for Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale and Atletico Madrid attacker Antoine Griezmann.What’s the word, then?Well, The Sun on Sunday says that Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho hasn’t been out off making a move for Bale despite his injury problems and the fact that he has missed 40% of Real’s games since joining them from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013.Meanwhile, The Sun on Sunday also says they have also reopened talks with Atletico over a deal for long-term target Griezmann, with representatives from both clubs meeting to discuss a potential move during the international break.The report adds that Spurs have first refusal on a deal to bring Bale back to the Premier League, and it is a transfer that could happen sooner rather than later seeing as the 28-year-old isn’t a popular figure among the Bernabeu faithful.Why does Mourinho want the duo?Despite Bale’s injury problems, the Wales international has scored 70 goals in 159 games for the La Liga giants and he would add some much-needed pace, strength and directness across the frontline for the Red Devils.Meanwhile, Griezmann has endured a disappointing start to the season by his own estimations but his record of 86 goals in 173 outings in all competitions for Atletico – as well as 19 goals in 49 caps for France – has seemingly convinced Mourinho that he could add a new dimension to his side’s attack.Could they really sign both?It’s difficult to say.Considering they already have the likes of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku it would be hard to argue that they need both, but if Mourinho believes they could make a significant difference it could happen.Both players would want regular first-team football and probably guaranteed starts though, and it could leave the Portuguese boss with a selection headache and perhaps even having to change his current preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.What does seem far more unlikely however is that United could buy both for £136m, considering some of the transfer prices we have seen banded about in the last year or so.

As the north London derby in the English capital came to a close, it was time for the Spanish capital to take centre stage. No fewer than three La Liga games took place in Madrid on Saturday, and two of them involved the biggest three teams in the country.As Barcelona left Madrid to fly back home after beating Leganes 3-0, they would have passed the Wanda Metropolitano on the way to the airport. There, Atletico Madrid welcomed Real to their new home for the very first time.There was to be only one winner. Barcelona.A drab 0-0 was played out as both sides were fearful of losing, and that makes sense. It’s one thing to lose to your city rivals, but it’s quite another to lose to that rival and be dumped out of the title race as a result. In truth, though, the cagey draw may well have had a similar effect.What that means now is that Barcelona are ten points clear of their two big rivals, and look like they might well have a title race played out between themselves and Valencia, not the double European champions Real Madrid. For Chelsea and Spurs, too, it might not mean all that much: if the Madrid clubs are going to spend the rest of their season focusing on European glory, they’ll both have to hope for miracles.For Real, they’ll need Tottenham to slip up twice, once against Borussia Dortmund and once against APOEL in order to top the group, whilst Atletico will be hoping for two slip-ups from Chelsea if they’re to go through at all. That now looks nigh-on impossible, though Qarabag away is hardly the nicest trip for the English champions to have to make.But the big effect on English clubs might well come in the spring.Whilst Atletico Madrid may not be in the Champions League – they may be in the Europa League where they can draw Arsenal or possibly even Celtic – you’d have to expect that Real Madrid will be. And by finishing second in the group, they could face a game against any of the English group-toppers who aren’t Tottenham: Chelsea can still finish first, whilst Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool are all still in good positions to do so.Despite the lack of form that Zinedine Zidane’s side have shown so far this season, they still may not be a team you want to draw. Indeed, coming second in the group stage isn’t evidence of being a bad team but of being in bad form. By the spring, they may well have rectified that. They are due a purple patch.A big day of football in the Spanish capital, then, had repercussions in Barcelona and potentially even effects in Britain’s cities, too. The further Ernesto Valverde’s Blaugrana pull away from the rest in La Liga, the more emphasis that puts on Real Madrid compensating for their domestic failings in Europe. And no-one should forget how dangerous they can be.Chelsea, Liverpool and the Manchester clubs will still want to avoid them.

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21/11/2017 | 08:45pmAccording to Don Balon, Real Madrid want to sign Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne in an £89m deal.What’s the story?De Bruyne has been in sensational form for City in the opening months of the 2017-18 campaign – managing four goals and nine assists in 17 appearances in all competitions.The 26-year-old is in his third season with the Citizens following a move from Wolfsburg in the summer of 2015, and his stock has never been higher.According to Don Balon, Real Madrid have identified the Belgium international as the perfect player to boost their squad, and the Spanish and European champions are prepared to pay £89m in order to seal a deal.Real Madrid’s problems this season have been shown by the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have just two league goals between them, whilst Gareth Bale’s continued absence through injury has left Zinedine Zidane’s side light in the final third.Is the move likely to occur?As much as City would like to think that they hold all of the cards, it would be very difficult for De Bruyne to turn down Real Madrid if the Spanish giants came calling.It is not as if De Bruyne grew up supporting City, and whilst he has a contract at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2021, if Real Madrid want to sign him, they will fancy their chances of making it happen.If the Belgian helps City win the Premier League and advance deep into the Champions League this season, he might well decide to move on.It is a very exciting time to play for City, however, and an interesting tug-of-war could take place if Real Madrid do indeed make a move at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.One thing is for sure, De Bruyne is now one of the best playmakers in world football, and Real Madrid are in need of some fresh blood in the final third of the field.

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22/11/2017 | 11:30amLiverpool missed out on the opportunity to secure their spot in the knockout stages of the Champions League as they surrendered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Sevilla in Spain on Tuesday night, and Reds fans weren’t impressed with captain Jordan Henderson’s performance.Following Spartak Moscow’s draw with Maribor earlier in the evening Jurgen Klopp’s side knew that a win would be enough to take them through to the last 16 with a game to spare, and they looked to be cruising to victory following a first-half brace from Roberto Firmino and goal from Sadio Mane.However, a second-half double from Wissam Ben Yedder and an injury-time equaliser from Guido Pizarro gave the La Liga outfit a point, meaning the race for qualification will go down to the final matchday.While Alberto Moreno didn’t have his best night against his former team, Henderson was equally poor in the middle of the park – as his stats from the night show.Jordan Henderson vs Sevilla55% passing0 take-ons 0 tackles won0 aerial duels won5 fouls1 booking‘Captain’— LFC Stats (@LFCData) November 21, 2017Liverpool supporters were quick to have their say on the 27-year-old’s showing via social media and while one said he is the “core of the problem”, another said “how on Earth do some people actually rate Henderson?”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…Please forgive me if you don't share the same opinion but Henderson is one of our major problems. Having that captaincy means he can't be benched when fit and that's hella foul. #LFC— StevenGerrard'sSon ™ (@AttaBoi_Westy) November 22, 2017Lovren > Henderson #lfc— MADO #Klopp (@MADeveci17) November 22, 2017Jordan Henderson is simple not good enough to be in the starting lineup, let alone captain. #LFC— Hassan Anfield (@Junior__Agogo) November 22, 2017Core of the problem is Henderson.. as a captain and a leader he isn't good enough.. I personally don't think he is a good enough player for #LFC full stop..— Ian…… (@redian77) November 22, 2017Henderson needs to be replaced ASAP in this team. #LFC— #Blessed 🌞 (@ariez12reds) November 22, 2017How on earth do some people actually rate Jordan Henderson? It’s just baffling, he brings nothing to the side, not captain material and is simply not good enough. #LFC— TheFootballGram_ (@TheFootballGram) November 21, 2017Not a big fan of Henderson .. never have been.. not worthy to wear the red shirt let a lone be captain #lfc— 🅣Ⓡ🅤Ⓢ🅣 Ⓘ🅝 Ⓚ🅛Ⓞ🅟Ⓟ (@TEE_70) November 21, 2017We're sacrificing Emre for Henderson, it'll look like a poor decision in the near future. Just hope Klopp looks for an upgrade on JH, need better. #LFC— Mo (@MomoyoyoLFC) November 21, 2017Henderson put in his worst ever performance tonight when we needed him, Gini was his steady self and Phil isn't a CM, Benega and Co had a free run #LFC— Chris Burn (@redbhoyburn) November 21, 2017

According to Catalan Radio (via Team Talk), Mesut Ozil is set to snub Manchester United in favour of a move to Barcelona this January.What’s the Story?Mesut Ozil could be on his way to Barcelona, according to reports in Spain. Catalan Radio have reported that a deal has been struck between Arsenal and Barca and the German international will leave the Emirates for around £17.8million.This will come as a blow to Jose Mourinho, who was reportedly looking to add Mesut Ozil to his squad during the winter transfer window.How good has Ozil been this season?Once again, Mesut Ozil has had a somewhat inconsistant season in North London. The 29-year-old shows regular flashes of exceptional skill but is also capable of a very quiet game.The German international has featured in 10 games for the Gunners this campaign, scoring just once and providing three assists for his teammates.Unfortunately, for both club and player, much of the discussion around Ozil is regarding his contract, of which he has yet to renew. It now seems that the World Cup winner will be on his way out of Arsenal in two months time.Would Manchester United be missing out on Ozil?Jose Mourinho, who has worked with Mesut Ozil before, may feel that he can reignite Ozil’s talents and consistency at Old Trafford.While the former Real Madrid man, who is valued at £45million by Transfermarkt, is certainly nowhere near his best form, a move to a club battling for a number of trophies this season may bring back his confidence somewhat.If you’re going to put your hand in your pocket to back a coupon this weekend, hold fire until you’ve seen our recommended Accys! Last week, our Premier League outright win treble with LeoVegas paid out—so we’re having another crack with Tottenham, Newcastle and Palace. We’ve also got a very enticing fourfold from the Championship and League One. Take a look and let us know how you’re placing your money this weekend!

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24/11/2017 | 03:43pmReported Everton summer target Cedric Bakambu impressed for Villarreal in their 3-2 win against Astana in the Europa League on Thursday night by scoring twice, and Toffees fans have urged their club to sign the striker.The Sun reported in March that the Merseyside outfit were lining up a summer bid for the DR Congo international, but a move never materialised as they failed to find a replacement for Romelu Lukaku before the transfer window slammed shut.The 26-year-old has certainly been in good form for the La Liga outfit this term though and his brace on Thursday – having only entered the field with 30 minutes left to play – moved him on to 11 goals in 16 appearances in all competitions this season.Everton supporters were quick to react to the centre-forward’s performance via social media, and while one described him as an “absolute beast”, another said he is “the striker Everton should sign in Jan”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…Cedric Bakambu is the striker Everton should sign in Jan it's a no brainer— Dieudonne (@DidiM_93) November 23, 2017Bakambu ou um atacante de ofício em janeiro, por favor @Everton— Toffees Brasil (@ToffeesBR) November 23, 2017Bakambu scored another 2 tonight. He was available in the summer but koeman chose to sign three number 10s instead.— Billy The Kid (@ToffeesArentWe) November 24, 2017This team with new additions in January anyone?What players (realistically) should we sign?For me it should be;Sessegnon/ShawZoumaBakambu@EvertonBlueArmy @FinKitch @JPickfxrd @greenallefc RT pic.twitter.com/gdMBHfyzUH— ClassicCalvert (@ClassicCalvert) November 23, 2017Bakambu another striker we should go for. Him with Onyekuru and Bas Dost would be quality— Paul (@iPauloxD) November 23, 2017Said last summer we should sign Bakambu, absolute beast— Dan (@WhatAGueye) November 23, 2017If you’re going to put your hand in your pocket to back a coupon this weekend, hold fire until you’ve seen our recommended Accys! Last week, our Premier League outright win treble with LeoVegas paid out—so we’re having another crack with Tottenham, Newcastle and Palace. We’ve also got a very enticing fourfold from the Championship and League One. Take a look and let us know how you’re placing your money this weekend!

2 minute read
24/11/2017 | 07:30pmLiverpool have told Philippe Coutinho’s camp that the playmaker will not be sold during the January transfer window, according to Le10 Sport.What’s the word?Coutinho was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona in the summer, but despite the Catalan giants’ persistence, the Brazilian was not sold.It has been widely reported that the former Inter Milan star wanted to move to the Camp Nou, but in the end respected Liverpool’s stance.Even though Barcelona were knocked back in the summer, the Spanish outfit are believed to be keen to launch a fresh bid when the transfer window reopens in January.Le10 Sport claims that Barca are wary of Paris Saint-Germain’s interest in Coutinho and hope to sneak in with a deal before any competitors steal their main target.The report adds that Liverpool have told the player’s representatives that a sale is ‘out of the question’.How long can they keep this up?The Reds are in the driving seat given that Coutinho’s contract, which he signed in January, does not include a release clause.However, more often that not, players tend to get their way and it is understandable due to concerns that an unhappy member of the team could affect the dressing room.If these latest reports are true, Liverpool are right to refuse a sale in January because losing a player of Coutinho’s calibre midway through the season could hugely affect how the rest of the campaign pans out.Having said that, in the summer the Merseyside outfit may have to re-think their approach if the Brazilian makes it clear that he wants to join Barcelona.If that becomes the case, the best thing for Liverpool to do is get a deal done as early as possible and then focus on bringing in a replacement.If you’re going to put your hand in your pocket to back a coupon this weekend, hold fire until you’ve seen our recommended Accys! Last week, our Premier League outright win treble with LeoVegas paid out—so we’re having another crack with Tottenham, Newcastle and Palace. We’ve also got a very enticing fourfold from the Championship and League One. Take a look and let us know how you’re placing your money this weekend!

2 minute read
25/11/2017 | 01:08pmAccording to reports in The Mirror, Manchester United look set to miss out on the signing of Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil, who will be offered a £350,000-a-week deal to join Barcelona.What’s the word, then?Well, The Mirror says that the La Liga giants are keen to sign the Germany international, whose contract with the Gunners runs out at the end of the season with no new deal close to being finalised.The Mirror says that the 29-year-old will be able to command a huge pay-day next summer, with United boss Jose Mourinho said to be keen on a reunion with the playmaker having worked with him at Real Madrid previously.The fact that Barcelona and not the Red Devils can sign a pre-contract agreement with the player in the New Year could prove to be a problem though, with Mourinho potentially having to look elsewhere for a new No. 10.Why does Mourinho want Ozil?While the Portuguese boss has some decent attacking options in the form of Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he perhaps doesn’t have the elite No. 10 that he would want.Henrikh Mkhitaryan started the season as the first-choice in that position but despite providing five assists in the first three Premier League games this term, he hasn’t registered one since and was dropped from the squad for the games against Newcastle United and FC Basel in the previous week.Ozil has provided 48 assists in 126 top flight outings for Arsenal since joining them from Real Madrid in 2013, and he would be a creative force at Old Trafford.Could United still get him?Well, Arsenal are unlikely to sell the Germany international to a direct Premier League rival in the New Year, and if Ozil wants his future sorted out then rather than at the end of the season then Mourinho looks unlikely to get his man.If you’re going to put your hand in your pocket to back a coupon this weekend, hold fire until you’ve seen our recommended Accys! Last week, our Premier League outright win treble with LeoVegas paid out—so we’re having another crack with Tottenham, Newcastle and Palace. We’ve also got a very enticing fourfold from the Championship and League One. Take a look and let us know how you’re placing your money this weekend!

1 minute read
26/11/2017 | 05:20amReal Madrid defender Raphael Varane is open to joining Manchester United, according to Don Balon.What’s the word?The France international was linked with a switch to Old Trafford in the summer, but a move failed to materialise.Instead, the 24-year-old’s deal at the Bernabeu was extended by five years.However, Don Balon states that Varane feels under-appreciated at the Spanish outfit and is willing to consider a move to United.It is believed that Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho has promised the Frenchman that he will be a key figure at the North-West outfit if he decides to join.Is this the right call?There is no doubt that Varane would be a welcome addition to a United defence that struggles with injury problems.Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Eric Bailly have all been on the treatment table recently.Varane is comfortable at the top level considering that he has been at the Bernabeu since 2011, but he has never before played in the Premier League.If the former Lens player was to join United, then it could have a detrimental effect on Victor Lindelof, who has struggled for game time already since his switch from Benfica in the summer.The 23-year-old’s last two performances have earned him plaudits from the fans, but his progression could be halted if Varane comes along.If you’re going to put your hand in your pocket to back a coupon this weekend, hold fire until you’ve seen our recommended Accys! Last week, our Premier League outright win treble with LeoVegas paid out—so we’re having another crack with Tottenham, Newcastle and Palace. We’ve also got a very enticing fourfold from the Championship and League One. Take a look and let us know how you’re placing your money this weekend!

1 minute read
26/11/2017 | 09:58pmFormer Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista impressed as his current team Valencia drew 1-1 with Barcelona in a top-of-the-table La Liga clash on Sunday, and Gunners fans were quick to have their say on his performance.The 27-year-old made 64 appearances for the north London outfit during two-and-a-half years at the Emirates, but he failed to establish himself as a regular in the starting XI during that time before he was sold to Valencia in August.However, the Brazilian has been in fine form for the Spanish club this term and they currently lie second in the standings having conceded just 12 goals in their 13 league games.Arsenal supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the centre-back, and while one said “still don’t understand why Wenger sold Gabriel”, another said “shame he never really got a chance”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…Gabriel Paulista just proves that Arsenal don't work on defending enough in training he's been class since signing for Valencia currently beating Barca 1-0 with 10 mins left— Steve (@goonersteve12) November 26, 2017Gabriel paulista is bossing it at the highest level in spain have we missed out on him?— ARSENAL FC (@wengeroutfans) November 26, 2017Gabriel is doing bits at Valencia this season. Shame he never really got a chance at the Arsenal— goatjic (@StefflonDon10) November 26, 2017Gabriel is doing so well at Valencia. A talented CB who never really got a great run in the team at #afc.— Sam (@samuelJayC) November 26, 2017Still don't understand why Wenger sold Gabriel Paulista #AFC— mohamed (@BremHajji) November 26, 2017

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29/11/2017 | 05:49pmAtletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann has revealed in his new book ‘Behind the Smile’ that he brushed off interest from Arsenal after they let him down in 2013, reports The Mirror.What’s the story?Griezmann has become one of Europe’s best forwards over the years for his heroics at Atletico.The France international’s career could have taken a different path when he was at Real Sociedad in 2013.In his new autobiography, Griezmann has revealed that he was keen on signing for Arsenal when the club’s scout Giles Grimandi made contact with the player’s agent.However, a bid never came in for the attacker and he vowed not to join the North London outfit in the future due to the way he had been treated.According to The Mirror, Griezmann wrote:“I waited, I waited, and I kept waiting. When there was no news, Eric called Grimandi, who said that the manager was still interested in me [and] to keep waiting.“Finally a few hours before the market closed, he let us know Arsenal would not make a move. I don’t like to be told something and for it not to happen.“So when Eric told me later that the London club were interested again I told him ‘Forget it, after the blow they gave us’.”Will Griezmann be playing in England next season?During the recent summer transfer window, widespread reports claimed that Manchester United were keen on signing the forward.In the end, though, the Frenchman stayed put, with many suggesting that Atletico’s transfer embargo persuaded him to remain loyal to his club of three years.Next summer could be a different story, but a recent report in The Independent has indicted that United have cooled interest in Griezmann due to the positive form of Anthony Martial.The Atletico star would be a welcome addition to the Premier League, but given the financial clout of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, it may be tough to convince the forward to move to England.

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29/11/2017 | 06:35pmReal Madrid are interested in signing out-of-favour Chelsea defender David Luiz in January, according to The Express.What’s the word?Zinedine Zidane is reportedly expected to bring in some new faces in the winter window in the hope of catching up with La Liga leaders Barcelona.The Express claims that Luiz is one of those targets, while Chelsea are considering reviving their interest in Juventus wing-back Alex Sandro.The future of Luiz remains unclear following reports of a fallout between himself and manager Antonio Conte.According to The Express, the Italian coach was unhappy with his player’s attitude following both Champions League games against Roma.As a result, Luiz was dropped from the squad for the 1-0 win over Manchester United and Andreas Christiansen was also preferred in matches against West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool.Luiz could be out of action for a longer spell as he is currently on the sidelines with a knee injury.What should Chelsea do?Conte has proven that he can be cut throat; an example being his dismissal of Diego Costa.The striker scored 25 Premier League goals last season, but was sold to Atletico Madrid in the summer after falling out with Conte.If Luiz is not welcomed back into the team once he returns to fitness, then it could spell the end for the defender.Chelsea must not allow the Brazilian to leave Stamford Bridge in January, though, as it will leave them short of options at the back.Given that the team are still fighting on all fronts, the club need as much depth as possible.

According to Calciomercato, Southampton are among a number of clubs willing to meet the £23.8million release clause in the contract of Espanyol striker Leo Baptistao.What’s the Story?Reports in Italy claim that Espanyol forward Leo Baptistao is on the radar of a number of clubs around Europe including Southampton, Brighton, Roma and Genoa.Under contract until 2021 with the Catalan Club, Southampton would need to bid £23.8million or more to land Baptistao, as per his release clause.How good has Baptistao been this season?Arguably his most consistent season in European football, Baptistao has found a home at Espanyol.A regular in the side, the Brazilian has started 12 games this season, scoring three times and providing two assists. Played mainly as a central striker, the 25-year-old has alos been deployed on the right wing, where he has proved extremely effective at times.One of the strongest points of Baptistao’s game is his ability to contribute to both offensive and defensive phases of play. He understands the game very well and is able to read teammates and opposition movement impressively.Would Baptistao be a good signing for Southampton?The one thing that Southampton are in desperate need of at this moment in time is an exciting attacker. Other than their 4-1 victory over Everton last weekend, the Saints have been miserably unentertaining in front of goal.With manager Mauricio Pellegrino under increasing pressure from fans to improve the teams fortunes, a move for a Brazilian striker may help reignite some energy into a dreary-looking Saints squad.

According to RMC Sport, David Luiz could be set to leave Chelsea this January and join European Champions Real MadridWhat’s the Story?Reports in France have suggested that David Luiz is keen on a move to Real Madrid after finding his playing time reduced at Stamford Bridge this season.Following a rift with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte at the end of October, Luiz has found himself out of the playing squad on a number of occassions since.While the Blues have played down any spat between player and manager, these reports suggest that Luiz is ready to move to pastures new.How good has Luiz been this season?It has been an inconsistent season for Luiz so far in 2017/18. The 30-year-old, who is valued at £27million by Transfermarkt has featured in 12 games for Chelsea, scoring twice and putting in pretty decent performances when selected.However, his inability to reclaim his spot in the Blues side and the emergence of Andreas Christensen means that Luiz could be set to leave Stamford Bridge for the second time in five years.Would Chelsea really consider letting Luiz leave?Clearly an immensely popular figure with the fans and inside the dressing room, David Luiz would certainly be hugely missed in West London.However, if reports are true and the Brazilian has fallen out with Antonio Conte, the club may need to take action in order to take a stand against unwarranted player power.A move to Real Madrid would be a surprise but is far from unlikely.

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30/11/2017 | 02:13pmAccording to reports in the Daily Mail, Everton striker Sandro Ramirez is a January target for La Liga high-flyers Valencia.What’s the word, then?Well, the Daily Mail says that Valencia are keen to bring the out of favour 22-year-old back to Spain on loan less than six months after he left Malaga to join the Toffees.Despite arriving for what was considered to be a bargain £5.2m fee following an impressive goalscoring campaign in La Liga, the attacker has so far struggled to adapt to the English game or to find a position where he fits into Everton’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.How has Ramirez done this season?Having scored 16 goals in 31 appearances for Malaga last term, hopes were high that the 22-year-old could help to score some of the goals the Merseyside outfit were losing when they sold Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United during the summer.However, he has only scored one goal in 13 outings for Everton so far this campaign, and he has only played 14 minutes of Premier League football in his club’s previous seven top flight fixtures.Could he go in January?While it looked as though he could potentially leave in the New Year if David Unsworth got the job on a permanent basis, that situation may now change after Sam Allardyce was confirmed as the club’s new manager.The former England boss will want to run the rule over all of his players before deciding who is surplus to requirements, and he may feel that he can get the best out of Ramirez – perhaps if he is partnered with a taller player like Dominic Calvert-Lewin up top.Big Sam certainly won’t fancy him as a lone striker if he intends to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation though, as he likes to have a target to hit with any long balls played forward.What’s the verdict, then?Well, if Allardyce decides that Ramirez isn’t for him or Everton – it could well be the case considering he has struggled to adapt to English football so far – then giving him to Valencia on loan in January could not only potentially help the 22-year-old regain his confidence, but also help them make a profit on a player that cost so little in today’s market.

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1/12/2017 | 10:37amAccording to reports in Spanish magazine Don Balon, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Newcastle United are keen to sign out of favour Atletico Madrid striker Kevin Gameiro, although he could cost any of the interested parties €32m (approximately £28.2m).What’s the word, then?Well, Don Balon says that Gameiro could leave the La Liga giants just 18 months after joining the club after failing to convince manager Diego Simeone that he can be a key player for them in the future, and the Premier League trio have all been credited with an interest in the France international.However, Don Balon says despite the fact the 30-year-old isn’t wanted, he won’t be sold on the cheap and Atletico are keen to recoup as much of the €32m (approximately £28.2m) they paid to sign him from Sevilla in 2016.How has Gameiro done this season?Despite being largely out of favour under Simeone, the Frenchman has still scored four goals and provided a further assist in 10 appearances in all competitions, including a brace and an assist in the 5-0 win against Levante last weekend.Why would Tottenham, Everton and Newcastle want him?Well, Mauricio Pochettino may well be looking for cover for Harry Kane with Fernando Llorente yet to score having joined the club during the summer, while Sam Allardyce may look to add to Everton’s attacking options in the New Year with the Merseyside outfit still yet to replace Romelu Lukaku.Meanwhile, Magpies manager Rafa Benitez could be keen to boost a frontline that has scored just 12 goals in 14 Premier League matches this term, in order to keep his team away from a relegation battle in the second-half of the campaign.Would he be a good signing for them?As a back-up option for Tottenham he certainly would be, but there would be concerns at the 5ft 7in striker’s ability to play a lone role up top because of his weakness in the air.That could be a similar problem for Everton and Newcastle too considering they often play with a 4-2-3-1 formation, and they would need to rely on Gameiro’s goalscoring abilities to make sure he was effective.That said, he has often played that role for Atletico and we have seen how well other smaller players like Segio Aguero and Alexis Sanchez have succeeded when they know how to use their body in the correct way.The festive fixture pileup is almost upon us—that’s bad news for the players, but great news for those of us who like a flutter! Before you build your accumulator for this weekend, be sure to check out the brace of LeoVegas coupons we’ve picked out. There’s a Premier League outright win treble with great odds, plus a fourfold from the lower leagues for the more cavalier. Our Accy Show tips have paid out in the last two weeks—take a look and let us know whether you think our streak will continue…

1 minute read
1/12/2017 | 12:26pmAccording to reports in Spanish magazine Don Balon, Tottenham Hotspur are one of three Premier League clubs interested in signing out of favour Atletico Madrid striker Kevin Gameiro, and Spurs fans have been quick to have their say on the rumour.Don Balon says that the north London outfit, along with top flight rivals Everton and Newcastle United, are keen on the 30-year-old who could be allowed to leave the La Liga giants having failed to impress Diego Simeone since joining the club in 2016.Despite seemingly being unwanted, the French attacker did score two and assist another in Atletico’s 5-0 win against Levante last weekend to show the goalscoring abilities that he has.Tottenham supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the link to Gameiro, and while one said “we’ll sign him and he’ll somehow flop”, another urged the club to “give them Llorente and £20m”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…When are they going to learn la liga strikers aren't for us— Jake (@lilywhite_army) December 1, 2017We'll sign him and he'll somehow flop— Henry (@princebale) December 1, 2017we really need fire power. This lad can finish but I think Atletico are just staring to play him more in a front 3, so this will be a hard signing— simon young (@rookieyoung1) December 1, 2017This will 100% not happen my sources inform me— Marcus (@mrmarcusroberts) December 1, 2017I'm sure he's nearly 30 or already is past that age, so why try but older when there is plenty of good young players out there? It didn't work with Soldado now it seems to be Llorente too. Why not try for someone younger with some pace and can try compete with Kane.— Ethan Mosely (@ethan_mosely) December 1, 2017great; another cheap option who is on the wrong side of 30.— Hywel Davies (@howlindavies) December 1, 2017Give them llorente and 20 million— winksinho (@xavierfifa) December 1, 2017The festive fixture pileup is almost upon us—that’s bad news for the players, but great news for those of us who like a flutter! Before you build your accumulator for this weekend, be sure to check out the brace of LeoVegas coupons we’ve picked out. There’s a Premier League outright win treble with great odds, plus a fourfold from the lower leagues for the more cavalier. Our Accy Show tips have paid out in the last two weeks—take a look and let us know whether you think our streak will continue…

3 minute read
1/12/2017 | 12:10pmAccording to reports in Spanish publication Marca, Newcastle United could reignite their interest in Real Madrid goalkeeper Kiko Casilla having failed in a move to bring him to St James’ Park during the summer transfer window.What’s the word, then?Well, Benitez was keen to bring a new goalkeeper to the newly-promoted Premier League outfit before the start of the current season, but a deal for Casilla failed to materialise with Real not signing a new stopper themselves.Newcastle’s first-choice keeper in the Premier League this season – Rob Elliot – was dropped for Karl Darlow in the 2-2 draw against West Bromwich Albion in midweek, and Benitez could reignite his search for a new man between the sticks in January.Marca says that Real are keen on a deal for Athletic Bilbao’s Kepa, and despite the fact that Casilla has filled in for the injured Keylor Navas in recent times, he could be surplus to requirements in the New Year if Kepa does arrive at the Bernabeu.How has Casilla done this season?The 31-year-old started the campaign as second-choice behind Navas, but injuries have meant that he has been handed his chance by Zinedine Zidane, and he has been named in the XI for nine of the La Liga giants’ last 10 matches in all competitions.He has conceded nine goals and kept five clean sheets in his 10 outings in total, with Real failing to win in four of those games.Would he be a good signing for Newcastle?He certainly would be.There will be doubts over the abilities of Elliot and Darlow from the St James’ Park faithful as the Magpies look to avoid a relegation battle this season, and bringing in Casilla would certainly make Benitez and the fans feel more confident.The 31-year-old has shown with his appearances for Real this season what a good goalkeeper he can be, and he certainly wouldn’t have any problem dealing with the pressure of playing in the Premier League having appeared for arguably the biggest club in the world.Will Newcastle get him in January?If Real get Kepa in the New Year then it certainly couldn’t be ruled out, but you would feel that could be a deal that is more likely for next summer unless Zidane wants a new number one right now.The festive fixture pileup is almost upon us—that’s bad news for the players, but great news for those of us who like a flutter! Before you build your accumulator for this weekend, be sure to check out the brace of LeoVegas coupons we’ve picked out. There’s a Premier League outright win treble with great odds, plus a fourfold from the lower leagues for the more cavalier. Our Accy Show tips have paid out in the last two weeks—take a look and let us know whether you think our streak will continue…

2 minute read
1/12/2017 | 04:30pmDavid de Gea has calmed speculation that he could leave Manchester United for Real Madrid, reports El Confidencial .What’s the word?Whenever a transfer window approaches, rumours of De Gea returning to his homeland do the rounds.Since the summer of 2015, when the goalkeeper’s proposed move to the Bernabeu fell through, the media has constantly speculated whether or not the Spaniard will end up at the Bernabeu.It is partly understandable given that De Gea clearly wanted to join the La Liga giants two years ago, but he has never publicly expressed a desire to join Real.The 27-year-old has given the clearest indication yet that he intends to stay at Old Trafford.In an interview with El Confidencial, De said:“Real Madrid? I’m the goalkeeper of Manchester United and Spain. What more could I ask for?”Is this the end of the rumours?Most likely no. If Madrid’s interest is serious then in most cases club’s of that stature get their way with regards to transfers.However, De Gea’s short but sweet response rings true as he has no real need to take on the challenge at the Bernabeu.Keylor Navas is the current number one at Real, and even though De Gea is one of the world’s best, he may need to fight for the shirt.At United, the shot-stopper has that position nailed down, and even though Manchester City seem to be running away with the Premier League title, the Red Devils will always be competitive under Jose Mourinho.Homesickness could eventually play a part in De Gea returning to Spain, but it seems that he is very secure at United.The festive fixture pileup is almost upon us—that’s bad news for the players, but great news for those of us who like a flutter! Before you build your accumulator for this weekend, be sure to check out the brace of LeoVegas coupons we’ve picked out. There’s a Premier League outright win treble with great odds, plus a fourfold from the lower leagues for the more cavalier. Our Accy Show tips have paid out in the last two weeks—take a look and let us know whether you think our streak will continue…

3 minute read
2/12/2017 | 01:25pmAccording to Spanish media outlet AS, reported Arsenal target Steven N’Zonzi could be on his way out of Sevilla after falling out with manager Eduardo Berizzo.What’s the word, then?Well, The Sun says that the Gunners were keen on the former Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City man during the summer transfer window, but no move materialised with AS reporting that no interested party was willing to meet the 28-year-old’s €40m (approximately £35.3m right now) release clause.Now AS says that the Frenchman could leave the La Liga side after reacting angrily to be taken off at half-time in the 3-3 draw against Liverpool in the Champions League last month, believing that fellow midfielder Guido Pizarro should have been replaced instead.AS adds that the midfielder then missed training the next day to throw his future with the club into doubt.How has he done this season?Prior to the incident against Liverpool, the France international had made 15 appearances in all competitions, and showcased why he is so highly-rated.According to Squawka, the 28-year-old has a passing accuracy of 90% in 10 La Liga outings this term, while he has made 11 interceptions and nine clearances.The fact that he has successfully completed three of three take-ons he has attempted shows how comfortable he is on the ball, while he has also won 29 of the 38 aerial duels he has contested.Would Arsenal still want him?It’s difficult to say.While Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka have done well in a central midfield pivot in recent weeks, the Gunners still don’t have that powerful and strong player in the middle of the park that you need in some matches.While Francis Coquelin can play that role and sit in front of the defence when required, there is no doubt that his fellow Frenchman N’Zonzi would be an upgrade.What’s the verdict, then?Well, it remains to be seen whether N’Zonzi and Berizzo make up in the next few weeks, but if they don’t then Sevilla could be forced to sell the 28-year-old in January.Whether Wenger would be willing to make a move for the midfielder then remains to be seen, with having to potentially replace Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez being more of a pressing matter.The festive fixture pileup is almost upon us—that’s bad news for the players, but great news for those of us who like a flutter! Before you build your accumulator for this weekend, be sure to check out the brace of LeoVegas coupons we’ve picked out. There’s a Premier League outright win treble with great odds, plus a fourfold from the lower leagues for the more cavalier. Our Accy Show tips have paid out in the last two weeks—take a look and let us know whether you think our streak will continue…

2 minute read
3/12/2017 | 08:00amEgypt head coach Hector Cuper has revealed that Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is wanted by Real Madrid, reports the London Evening Standard.What’s the story?Given the attacker’s current form, he was bound to attract interest from other big-name clubs.Salah has found the back of the net 17 times and has created four assists in 21 appearances in all competitions.Egypt head coach Cuper apparently has inside knowledge about a potential transfer, with Madrid said to be interested.According to the London Evening Standard, the football coach told ON Sport TV in Egypt:“I’ve received confirmed news revealing Real Madrid’s interest in Salah, but let’s not rush things. To me, he is in an amazing position right now.”How should Liverpool react?The Merseyside outfit proved in the summer that they can be stubborn when trying to keep hold of a key player.The club denied Philippe Coutinho a move to Barcelona, despite the Spanish giants’ tabling three bids.If there is a genuine interest in Salah, then Liverpool need to make sure that they do everything that they can to stop the 25-year-old from having his head turned.In most cases, it is difficult for players not to consider joining one of the European heavyweights, but at the moment, there is no need for the player to move.At the moment, Salah, who joined the club from Roma for £36m in the summer, is a key figure in Jurgen Klopp’s side and if he made the jump to Madrid, he would have to compete for a place in the setup.The festive fixture pileup is almost upon us—that’s bad news for the players, but great news for those of us who like a flutter! Before you build your accumulator for this weekend, be sure to check out the brace of LeoVegas coupons we’ve picked out. There’s a Premier League outright win treble with great odds, plus a fourfold from the lower leagues for the more cavalier. Our Accy Show tips have paid out in the last two weeks—take a look and let us know whether you think our streak will continue…

3 minute read
3/12/2017 | 05:38pmAccording to reports in The Sunday Mirror, new Everton boss Sam Allardyce has targeted unhappy Sevilla midfielder Steven N’Zonzi as one of his priority transfer targets.What’s the word, then?Well, The Sunday Mirror says that having been promised a bumper January budget by majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, Allardyce could look to be reunited with the 28-year-old.The 63-year-old signed the Frenchman when he was Blackburn Rovers manager, and The Sunday Mirror also says that he was keen to see if the midfielder was eligible to play for England when he was in charge of the Three Lions.The report adds that N’Zonzi is keen to leave the La Liga outfit and although Sevilla would be reluctant to let him go, they could be tempted if they are offered £20m.How has N’Zonzi done this season?The 28-year-old has been a regular in the Sevilla side this season, but he wasn’t happy when he was taken off at half-time in the draw against Liverpool in the Champions League, and he failed to turn up to training the next day.Since then, the Frenchman hasn’t made the squad for the La Liga matches against Villarreal and Deportivo La Coruna, with the relationship between himself and manager Eduardo Berizzo still not repaired.Do Everton need him?With the likes of Idrissa Gueye, Morgan Schneiderlin, James McCarthy, Mo Besic, Beni Baningime and Tom Davies in the middle of the park, you wouldn’t necessarily think that they need N’Zonzi but the former two especially have been performing far worse than they did last season.There is no doubt that the Sevilla man would add some strength and power in the centre, and he would prove to be an important player at both ends of the pitch when it comes to set-pieces.What’s the verdict, then?Well, if Everton could pick N’Zonzi up for £20m Allardyce would probably be happy to do it, especially having worked with the Frenchman before and the fact that he has experience of playing Premier League, Champions League and Europa League football.That said, his fall-out with his current boss in recent weeks would bring some question marks over his attitude and character.The festive fixture pileup is almost upon us—that’s bad news for the players, but great news for those of us who like a flutter! Before you build your accumulator for this weekend, be sure to check out the brace of LeoVegas coupons we’ve picked out. There’s a Premier League outright win treble with great odds, plus a fourfold from the lower leagues for the more cavalier. Our Accy Show tips have paid out in the last two weeks—take a look and let us know whether you think our streak will continue…

2 minute read
3/12/2017 | 07:08pmAccording to reports in The Sunday Mirror, Manchester United are ready to pull the plug on signing Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale unless the price is right, and they are only willing to pay £50m-£60m for the £100m-rated player.What’s the word, then?Well, The Sunday Mirror says that Real are ready to sell the Welshman in order to fund moves for Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar and Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, but they rate him at £100m.However, The Sunday Mirror says that United don’t feel he is worth that much because of the fact that he has suffered a number of injury issues during his time with Spain, the fact that he turns 29 in July and how he is currently on £350,000-per-week.The report adds that while the Red Devils were once willing to pay £100m, their chiefs will only do business in a cut-price deal.How he has done this season?It has been another injury-hit campaign for Bale at the Bernabeu.The Wales international has made 10 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals and providing a further five assists, but he picked up his 20th injury during his time with Real against Fuenlabrada last week.That calf problem meant he missed the goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.Could United get him for £50m?Considering some of the transfer fees that are being thrown around right now, it would be difficult see Real accepting an offer of £50m for Bale.Even if they are looking to offload the 28-year-old they will still believe that he is one of the best attacking players in the world on his day, and that is shown by their £100m valuation.Of course, Real have long been linked with United goalkeeper David De Gea and there could be a compromise found if the stopper was involved in any deal, but the Red Devils won’t want that to happen either.The festive fixture pileup is almost upon us—that’s bad news for the players, but great news for those of us who like a flutter! Before you build your accumulator for this weekend, be sure to check out the brace of LeoVegas coupons we’ve picked out. There’s a Premier League outright win treble with great odds, plus a fourfold from the lower leagues for the more cavalier. Our Accy Show tips have paid out in the last two weeks—take a look and let us know whether you think our streak will continue…

2 minute read
4/12/2017 | 05:05pmAccording to Diario Gol, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are both interested in signing Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos in the January transfer window.What’s the story?Ceballos starred for Spain Under-21s during the Under-21 European Championships last summer, and after being linked with a number of clubs, ultimately joined Real Madrid from Real Betis.The 21-year-old has struggled for first-team football at the Bernabeu, however, starting just two La Liga matches for the defending champions this season.According to Diario Gol, Ceballos’ position at Real Madrid has not gone unnoticed, and North London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal are both closely monitoring proceedings with the view to a move when the winter window opens for business.AC Milan and Roma have also been credited with an interest, while Betis are said to be keen to take Ceballos on a loan deal until the end of the 2017-18 campaign.Would Ceballos suit the Premier League?Ceballos, who is valued at £15.3m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has scored twice in 11 appearances for Real Madrid since making the move to the Bernabeu.The presence of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric has made it very difficult for the midfielder to earn a spot in the middle of the park, whilst he does not have the same qualities as Casemiro in a defensive position.There is simply no doubting Ceballos’ ability, however, with the Spaniard a terrific footballer capable of producing moments of magic from the middle of the park.His close control and range of passing make him a nightmare to play against, and despite not being a physically imposing midfielder, there is no question that he has the credentials to operate in the Premier League.It is not a surprise that English clubs are watching the midfielder with a view to a winter move, and he has the potential to be a star in the Premier League.

1 minute read
4/12/2017 | 06:55pmLuis Suarez had a pretty good time of it at Liverpool – scoring 82 goals in 133 appearances for the Merseyside outfit before making the move to Barcelona.He netted 61 times in his final two seasons with the Reds, and has continued that scoring form in Spain – registering 127 goals in 165 matches for Barcelona.Norwich City will not have many fond memories of Suarez though following a couple of spectacular performances against the Canaries.Liverpool took a trip down memory lane on Monday as they posted a video of the striker scoring four times in the 5-1 win over Norwich in December 2013.It would be fair to say that Suarez is not popular with everyone, and he has made some serious mistakes on the football pitch during his career.There can be no doubting his ability as a player, however, and it is a shame for Liverpool that he did not stick around a little bit longer to help push the club forward.A selection of the best Twitter reaction to Liverpool’s video can be found below:🗓 #OnThisDay in 2013…An unbelievable performance from @LuisSuarez9 👌🙌 pic.twitter.com/30aifqEaCM— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 4, 2017So special . Once in a generation type of player, for sure.— Warriors of Uruguay (@UruguayanHeroes) December 4, 2017Love him or loathe him, Luis Suarez is a footballing genius! #LFC There is not enough words to describe how good this man is. He scores EVERY type of goal, what a player! Thanks for the memories Luis!— Jurgen Meister🇩🇪 (@SS_LFC) December 4, 2017What a player!!! 👏👏👏— Cindy™ (@Cindymonel) December 4, 2017Missing his moments tho— Jordan Collins (@JordanC73346859) December 4, 2017I was at that game with my daughter's he was breathtaking so glad I saw this genius play .— jeansgirl (@henrysboss) December 4, 2017Wish he would come back— unclegrowler (@unclegrowler) December 4, 2017miss himHe scores a goal and the Kop go wild#YNWA— Jason k (@Jasonk185) December 4, 2017Best individual performance I’ve ever had the privilege to witness.— GEOFF CATON (@GEOFFCATON1) December 4, 2017Yes remeber it well! Brilliant, best player on the planet at times— sakho's first touch (@dazzerlad) December 4, 2017“The man… is just (voice breaks)… brilliant! 😭— pete vorimo (@PVorimo) December 4, 2017

4 minute read
5/12/2017 | 09:56am
According to reports in Spanish media outlet DiarioGol, Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos is unhappy at a lack of first-team minutes and is being eyed by Tottenham Hotspur, along with Premier League rivals Arsenal, Serie A duo AC Milan and AS Roma and former club Real Betis.DiarioGol says that the 21-year-old, who moved to the Bernabeu from Betis during the summer transfer window, chose to join Real over Barcelona even though he knew that manager Zinedine Zidane didn’t particularly want him and that he would have played more at the Camp Nou, and he is already frustrated at a lack of game time.Now the Spain Under-21 international is looking for a way out, with Spurs among the clubs ready to offer him an escape route.Meanwhile, new Everton manager Sam Allardyce will already be identifying potential January signings as he looks to lead the Merseyside outfit up the Premier League table, and a deal to bring the youngster to Goodison Park could prove to be a shrewd move.Here are three reasons the Toffees should hijack Tottenham’s bid to sign Ceballos…

3 minute read
5/12/2017 | 11:07amAccording to reports in The Times, Chelsea forward Eden Hazard is refusing to sign a new contract worth £300,000 a week in the hope of attracting an offer from Real Madrid.What’s the word, then?Well, The Times says Hazard has joined Belgian teammate Thibaut Courtois in putting talks over a new deal on hold until the end of the season despite the fact that he has been offered a contract that would make him the highest-paid player in the west London outfit’s history.The Times says that while the 26-year-old is happy at Stamford Bridge, he is so far reluctant to extend his current deal – which still has two-and-a-half years left to run on it – as it would affect his chances of joining Real in the future.The report adds that while the La Liga giants have coveted the attacker for a long time, they didn’t make a formal bid last summer and the Blues are hoping that the man that wants him – Zinedine Zidane – is sacked at the end of the season to boost their chances of keeping their influential star.How has Hazard done this season?Even though he perhaps hasn’t been as influential as he was last term so far during the current campaign – especially as he recovered from an ankle injury – the 26-year-old has still scored an impressive eight goals and provided a further six assists in 19 appearances in all competitions.The Belgium international showed his importance in the 3-1 win against Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, when Antonio Conte’s side came from a goal down to pick up the three points with Hazard scoring a brace.Could he go to Madrid before his contract expires?It’s difficult to say.While Chelsea certainly won’t want to lose their attacking talisman if he is refusing to sign a new deal and they receive a huge offer from Real next summer, it could be too tempting to turn down – especially if the player says he wants to go.Of course the Blues would have to make sure they were definitely getting a world-class replacement first, and it certainly won’t be easy to find someone of the Belgian’s quality.

3 minute read
5/12/2017 | 12:09pmAccording to reports in the Daily Mail, West Ham United could face competition from La Liga giants Real Madrid in the race to sign Krasnodar and Russia striker Fyodor Smolov.What’s the word, then?Well, the Daily Mail says that Real have been impressed with the 27-year-old performances for club and country in recent weeks, and they are considering adding the centre-forward to their squad following a disappointing start to the campaign.The Daily Mail reported last month that West Ham were ready to launch a £15m bid for the Russia captain during the January transfer window, but the news of the interest from the La Liga giants could dent their hopes of bringing the striker to the London Stadium in the New Year.The latest report adds that even though he is set to skipper his country at his nation’s home World Cup next summer, he is still willing to leave Krasnodar midway through the current campaign.How good has Smolov been this season?He has been excellent, and it is no surprise that he is attracting admiring glances from a number of clubs.The 27-year-old scored a brace in Russia’s 3-3 friendly draw with Spain last month, while he has also hit form for his club with five goals in his last six appearances.In total, he has 13 goals in 15 outings in all competitions this term.Would he be a good signing for West Ham?He certainly would be.With 13 goals in 15 Premier League matches this season the Irons are struggling for goals, and there are continued fitness doubts over the likes of Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho, with the Daily Mail reporting that David Moyes could be set to lose the latter in January anyway.Standing at 6ft 2in tall and being relatively strong, Smolov looks to have the physical traits to be a success in the English top flight, but WhoScored.com also lists dribbling as one of his major strengths, too.Could they really beat Real Madrid to his signature?It would depend on the player.There is no doubt that the 27-year-old would get more first-team football at the London Stadium than he would with Real, but the draw of joining the La Liga giants could be too good to turn down – especially if his captain status guarantees that he will play every game for Russia at next summer’s World Cup.

2 minute read
5/12/2017 | 10:41pmLiverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has claimed that he cannot say for certain that Philippe Coutinho will still be at the club after the January transfer window, reports Sky Sports.What’s the word?Throughout the summer, the Brazilian was coveted by Barcelona, but the Reds managed to hold firm.The Catalan giants reportedly had three bids rejected by the Merseyside outfit, despite Coutinho expressing a desire to leave.With the January window a matter of weeks away, there are rumours that Barcelona could revive their interest.During a press conference, Klopp was asked what makes him sure that Coutinho will stay beyond the winter period.According to Sky Sports, the German coach said:“Nothing, but I don’t think about it. Not one second. I’m not unsure, I’m not sure, I don’t think about it.”Could Liverpool lose Coutinho next month?Most of the time, big-name players do not move clubs until the end of the season, but it is not unheard of for high-profile stars to switch homes midway through the campaign.If Coutinho was keen to seal a transfer in the summer, then the 25-year-old may be tempted if Barca come calling in a few weeks’ time.It is unclear what is going on behind the scenes, but the Brazilian has knuckled down and is performing well on the pitch.If he was unhappy at Anfield, we may not be seeing the kind of performances that the playmaker has been producing.Coutinho has scored six goals and created six assists in his last 10 outings for the Reds.Given how hard Liverpool fought to keep their star player in the summer, it would seem like a wasted effort if they sell him midway through the season.

1 minute read
5/12/2017 | 11:33pmEverton are keeping tabs on Sevilla midfielder Steven N’Zonzi ahead of a potential January move, according to the Daily Mail.What’s the story?The 28-year-old has been open about his desire to leave the Spanish club after falling out with head coach Eduardo Berizzo.Since getting substituted in a 3-3 draw with Liverpool in the Champions League, the midfielder has failed to win back his spot.The Daily Mail claims that Everton manager Sam Allardyce is keeping track of the situation, while the player’s representatives are contacting Premier League and Italian clubs about a January deal.It is believed that N’Zonzi has a buyout clause worth £35.2m, but the Toffees would push for a £25m fee.Where would N’Zonzi fit in at Everton?With Allardyce having only recently taken charge, he may use the January window to shape a team that best fits his style.N’Zonzi was never regarded in high esteem in England’s top flight during his time at Stoke City.However, since moving to Sevilla in 2015, the midfielder has shone and has proven that he can play a pivotal role.Morgan Schneiderlin has failed to win over every Everton supporter since joining the Toffees from Manchester United in January.With that being said, N’Zonzi could take his position or work alongside the midfielder, with either Gylfi Sigurdsson or Wayne Rooney playing in front.

1 minute read
6/12/2017 | 12:04amWith the January transfer window only a few weeks away, many stories have been churning in the rumour mill.One involves Everton and former Stoke City midfielder Steven N’Zonzi, who left the Premier League for Sevilla in 2015.After falling out of favour at the Spanish club, the 28-year-old has suggested that he intends to move on.The Daily Mail reports that the Toffees are keeping tabs on the situation and would be willing to part with around £25m, which falls short of his £35.2m release clause.N’Zonzi sent the rumours into overdrive when he travelled to London on Tuesday, but it later emerged that he was in the capital to visit his son on a trip that was approved by Sevilla.Numerous clubs, including Arsenal and Serie A outfits, have also been linked with moves for the midfielder.Everton fans, who have experienced plenty of change this season with the sacking of Ronald Koeman and new appointment of Allardyce, have now had their say on the transfer rumour.Think you know the answer. If N’Zonzi comes it’s one underwhelming player replacing another.— David Arrow (@DavidArrow04) December 5, 2017Do we need N’Zonzi? #EFC— Ross Crombie (@RossCrombie) December 5, 2017I wouldn't have said so in the summer but who could have foreseen Morgan Schneiderlin forgetting how to play football?— Gary Shaw (@shawryblue) December 5, 2017N'Zonzi got a clause in contract for €35m get it done @Everton #EFC— #NSNO (@AllezAllezEFC) December 5, 2017#NZonzi yes please#Giroud yes pleaseSilly season is almost here again. Not Xmas! The transfer window, where we all play fantasy football with rumours and dreams of who we might sign 🙈 #EFC— Jake Cintra (@SuperJakeC) December 5, 2017Nzonzi would be a slightly odd signing considering the amount of cm's we have unless we're ditching Morgan mores when there are more obvious areas that need strengthening. #EFC #COYB— J Roche (@jamieroche) December 5, 2017N'Zonzi, Walcott, Dost and a Centre Back and january is a success #efc— 👾 (@Liam17Lewis) December 5, 2017

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6/12/2017 | 08:30amChelsea cemented a place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday night, but it was tinged with disappointment.A 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge meant that Antonio Conte’s side finished second in Group C, with Roma taking top spot.The outcome has made the first knockout round that much harder for Chelsea as they could be drawn against Barcelona or Paris Saint-Germain.On the night, Atletico nudged in front thanks to a goal from Saul Niguez, but Eden Hazard managed to drag the Blues back into the game.The Belgian’s effort deflected off Stefan Savic and into the net with 15 minutes of normal time remaining on the clock.Hazard almost became the provider when he set up Willian, who had little to do to grab the winning goal, but the Brazilian ended up sending the ball high over the crossbar.The 29-year-old has faced criticism from some Chelsea fans this season, and once again he was targeted.Others, though, jumped to the player’s defence.– Don’t know how some fans can disrespect Willian like he’s on Theo Walcotts level…absurd & fickle #cfc— Dean (@dean_trnslt) December 5, 2017Don’t understand why all these armchair ‘supporters’ continue to blame Willian everytime #cfc don’t win. How can you target a player who wasn’t even on the pitch when we conceded! #pathetic— Daninho (@islehood) December 5, 2017I saw both the games that PSG lost and I think with disciplined defending and by keeping Willian out we can beat PSG over 2 legs !!#CFC #ChampionsLeague— Blue Wizard (@joban_patel) December 5, 2017When Willian is at his best he can win games on his own. So inconsistent though which is why musonda needs chances #CFC— mason❄️ (@MasonClark14) December 5, 2017Willian should be docked 2 weeks wages , one for the miss and one for that pass ! #cfc— marshey (@marshey71) December 5, 2017Apart from missing that one vital chance, Willian was really impressive today ! Blaming him would be totally unlike a #CFC fan ! #CHEATL— SHYAM (@SHYAMTAN) December 5, 2017Never thought Willian will be able to outdo his performance against Man City but today in 20 minutes he didTotally neglected the positive impact Pedro madehuge opportunity missed #CFC— AayushKataria (@aayush11kataria) December 5, 2017Willian ruined so many counters it’s frustrating.. he can’t pass #cfc— Chelsea FC (@NarcosAlonso1) December 5, 2017

2 minute read
6/12/2017 | 09:00amReal Madrid are considering a January move for Liverpool midfielder Emre Can, according to Corriere dello Sport.What’s the story?The midfielder’s current contract at Anfield expires at the end of the season and there are no indications as yet that the German intends to sign a new one.Juventus have been heavily linked with a move for Can, but now Corriere dello Sport report that Madrid have taken an interest.The report claims that manager Zinedine Zidane is keen to add a central midfielder to his squad when the transfer window reopens next month.Given that Can’s deal expires next summer, the midfielder could be available for a cheaper price in January.What can Liverpool offer?The Germany international recently told the Liverpool Echo that his reluctance to sign fresh terms at Anfield has nothing to do with money.Presumably it is about game time and the club’s ambitions, but the midfielder did not expand on the reasons to the media.Can has started 10 of the Reds’ 15 Premier League games this season and four in the Champions League.The 23-year-old is far from a bit-part player, but he is yet to really cement himself in Jurgen Klopp’s side.The Merseyside outfit are a way off being genuine title contenders, so with Juventus and Madrid showing an interest, it would be hard to turn them away.However, Can could find himself in a position where he is struggling to grab a regular place in his new team, particularly if the midfielder moves to the Bernabeu.

1 minute read
6/12/2017 | 10:32amAtletico Madrid were one of the teams to drop into the Europa League following their 1-1 draw in their final Champions League group game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, and Arsenal fans were quick to have their say on the news.The Gunners are one of the favourites to win the Europa League and have already qualified for the knockout stages, but now they have been joined by the likes of Atletico, Celtic, CSKA Moscow and Sporting Lisbon after those teams finished third in their Champions League groups.As things stand they are likely to be joined by the likes of Napoli, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig on Wednesday, and with AC Milan also already in the Europa League it is shaping up to be an exciting competition over the remainder of the campaign.Arsenal supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the latest bombshell, and while one simply said “life is unfair”, another said “we can’t catch a break”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…When Arsenal in Europa League only teams like Dortmund and Atletico Madrid will enter round of 32. When United was in Europa last year, teams like Spurs and Rostov will enter. Life is unfair 🙃— Dinesh (@dineshjohn98) December 6, 2017Atletico Madrid in the Europa League. This is a deliberate sabotage of Arsenal's title hopes. UEFA hates Wenger 😡😡— MikeThePundit (@MichaelImianvan) December 6, 2017Strongest line up in years I imagine, typical when Arsenal drop in to it 😂 https://t.co/C3vZXpcdG0— ✌🏻 Ŵęśtŷ™⚽️🍺 (@Westyafcm) December 6, 2017CSKA, Celtic, Atletico & Sporting all droping out to Europa League. Could be joined by likes of Napoli, Dortmund & Porto/Leipzig tomorrow. Insanely difference from last years campaign #afc— Bagheera (@BagheeraLoui) December 5, 2017Damn,tis is not gud pic.twitter.com/0Ec5UsxVjn— I know a guy (@TerryVitamin) December 5, 2017Said the other week that it would be a nightmare if certain teams dropped into the Europa League and of course that has now happened. We can’t catch a break 😫 #EuropaLeague #afc— MotherOfDragons (@thegoonerway94) December 6, 2017Transferring to UEFA Europa League round of 32:CSKA MoskvaCelticAtlético MadridSporting4 more teams will join them on Wednesday:Liverpool or Sevilla or SpartakShakhtar or NapoliPorto or Leipzig Dortmund or APOELArsenal luck… 😂😂#UEL #coyg #afc— Amar (@Arsene__Knows) December 5, 2017Atleti, Dortmund, Napoli in the Europa league. God save us. #UCL #AFC— TEJ (@sartejt) December 5, 2017

1 minute read
7/12/2017 | 09:00pmPhilippe Coutinho’s Liverpool future has been under the microscope ever since Barcelona made their interest known in the summer.The Catalan giants targeted the Brazilian after they sold Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record deal worth close to £200m.Liverpool could not be persuaded to sell, though, and managed to keep hold of their star attraction.Since the transfer was refused, Coutinho has managed to re-focus and score nine goals and create six assists in 14 appearances in all competitions.The rumours about a possible switch to Barcelona continue to rumble ahead of the January transfer window.Following Liverpool’s 7-0 thumping of Spartak Moscow, in which Coutinho scored a hat-trick, the Brazilian joined Carragher and former Norwegian striker Jan Aage Fjortoft in a televised interview.During the broadcast, Carragher’s phone began to ring, which prompted the interviewer to say “it’s probably Barcelona, it’s Barcelona!”The retired defender tried to save his embarrassment by saying “no, he’s staying” while gesturing towards Coutinho, who joined in with the laughter.The 25-year-old refrained from commenting on the speculation and continued talking about the game against Spartak.If you’re going to put together a coupon this weekend, wait until you’ve seen the brace of bets we propose in the latest Football FanCast Accy Show! First up, we’re backing a treble of London Premier League clubs for outright wins—on a slip that benefits from LeoVegas Enhanced Odds. For the more cavalier, we’ve put together a pretty enticing fourfold from the EFL. Check it out and let us know what you’re backing this weekend!

2 minute read
7/12/2017 | 10:30pmReal Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has suggested that he is not interested in signing Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, reports the Metro.What’s the word?Ever since the shot-stopper’s proposed move to the Bernabeu collapsed in the summer of 2015, De Gea has been a rumoured target for the Spanish club in almost every window.Despite seemingly wanting to join Real at the time, the 27-year-old ended up making a U-turn and signed a new contract.As it stands, De Gea will become a free agent in 18 months’ time unless a 12-month extension is activated.Zidane has calmed speculation about a possible swoop for the keeper by telling reporters:“I have two goalkeepers, understand? I am a Real Madrid coach and I am happy with my two goalkeepers, I will always say the same. I saw Keylor well, although we can always give a little bit more, like always.”Should Zidane’s words be taken for face value?In the football world, things can change dramatically over the course of a day or two.Managers can lose their jobs after a handful of unsavoury results and players can pledge their commitment to a club a few months before moving on.Zidane’s comments could be an attempt to rid the squad of any potential distractions, particularly the goalkeepers.If Navas is concerned about losing his number one spot to De Gea, then his focus on upcoming games could be compromised.On the other hand, the Madrid boss may genuinely not be considering a swoop for the United star.However, until the transfer window passes, nothing can be ruled out.If you’re going to put together a coupon this weekend, wait until you’ve seen the brace of bets we propose in the latest Football FanCast Accy Show! First up, we’re backing a treble of London Premier League clubs for outright wins—on a slip that benefits from LeoVegas Enhanced Odds. For the more cavalier, we’ve put together a pretty enticing fourfold from the EFL. Check it out and let us know what you’re backing this weekend!

2 minute read
8/12/2017 | 06:00pmManchester United manager Jose Mourinho has turned his attention to Real Madrid star Marco Asensio after giving up on Gareth Bale, according to Don Balon.What’s the word?During the summer window, Mourinho made it clear that he wanted Bale in his team if he became available at the Bernabeu.A transfer never materialised and now rumours are rife that the Red Devils have cooled their interest in the injury-prone Welshman.Don Balon reports that Asensio is the new target, but the Premier League giants are unwilling to pay his £442m release clause.United are prepared to offer a hefty fee in a bid to convince club president Florentino Perez to sell.Asensio right for United?It was widely reported prior to the start of the season that Mourinho wanted a new winger.Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic was thought to be the top target, but the Croatia international never made the move.Asensio is good enough to fulfil that role, but he offers more than skill in wide areas.The 21-year-old can also play further up in a left-sided attacking position, as well as centrally as a number 10 or up front.Given that the Spaniard has started just eight La Liga games and one in the Champions League under Zinedine Zidane, he may be open to moving on.Mourinho, though, has shown with the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Luke Shaw that if a player does not meet his standards, he will ruthlessly drop them.Asensio’s lack of game time this season and zero Premier League experience may result in him needing time to adapt.Having said that, the attack-minded star has still contributed with seven goals in all competitions.If you’re going to put together a coupon this weekend, wait until you’ve seen the brace of bets we propose in the latest Football FanCast Accy Show! First up, we’re backing a treble of London Premier League clubs for outright wins—on a slip that benefits from LeoVegas Enhanced Odds. For the more cavalier, we’ve put together a pretty enticing fourfold from the EFL. Check it out and let us know what you’re backing this weekend!

2 minute read
9/12/2017 | 07:00amAccording to Diario Gol, Tottenham Hotspur are considering a move to re-sign Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric.What’s the story?Modric starred for Tottenham between 2008 and 2012, and it would be fair to say that the English club’s supporters were devastated when he joined Real Madrid.There is no question that the Croatian international has developed into one of the world’s best central midfielders over the last few years, and he has won three Champions League titles and one La Liga crown since making the move to the Spanish capital.Speculation surrounding Modric’s future has gathered pace in recent months though, with his contract due to expire in the summer of 2020.According to Diario Gol, Tottenham are closely monitoring proceedings, and the London club could launch a stunning move to re-sign the midfielder at the end of the 2017-18 season.Would Modric go back to Tottenham?Tottenham are a wonderful football club, there is no question about that. They are not, however, Manchester United.Nor are they Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester City in the current climate, with all three of those teams arguably having a more realistic chance of winning major silverware.If Modric, who is rated at £36m by transfermarkt.co.uk, did become available on the open market, it would be a surprise if the likes of United, Chelsea, City, Arsenal and Liverpool were not in the running.Modric’s relationship with Tottenham could well stand Mauricio Pochettino’s side in good stead, but a lot of things would have to occur for a deal to take place.Modric will be 33 next year, but the Croatian is still a stunning footballer, and if Real Madrid decide to sell, he will not exactly be short of interest.It is certainly a deal to watch over the coming months, but for the moment, he remains a key figure at the Bernabeu.If you’re going to put together a coupon this weekend, wait until you’ve seen the brace of bets we propose in the latest Football FanCast Accy Show! First up, we’re backing a treble of London Premier League clubs for outright wins—on a slip that benefits from LeoVegas Enhanced Odds. For the more cavalier, we’ve put together a pretty enticing fourfold from the EFL. Check it out and let us know what you’re backing this weekend!

1 minute read
10/12/2017 | 01:47pmReal Madrid will make a move for goalkeeper Hugo Lloris if Tottenham Hotspur fail to win a trophy this season, according to The Mirror.What’s the story?Widespread reports have suggested that Los Blancos will be looking for a new shot-stopper when the campaign comes to a close.Manchester United’s David de Gea and Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois have been touted as possible candidates.Now, The Mirror claims that Madrid are eyeing Lloris, who could be bought for around £25m if Tottenham end the season without silverware.The publication states that the Frenchman is happy with life in North London, but is wary of the fact that the club have not won a trophy since 2007-08.What should Tottenham do?In this instance, a hike in wages is unlikely to convince Lloris to stay put if he is considering a switch to the Bernabeu.Given the club’s modest wage structure, the goalkeeper would be handed a much bigger pay packet by Madrid anyway.When footballers enter their 30s, they are more likely to be assessing their career and if they are at a club that are not winning trophies, a change might be needed.Tottenham have come close in recent Premier League title races having finished third and then second, but Mauricio Pochettino’s men are already 15 points off the pace this season.It is difficult for most players to turn down Madrid, and if Spurs end another campaign without silverware, Lloris may edge towards the exit gates.If you’re going to put together a coupon this weekend, wait until you’ve seen the brace of bets we propose in the latest Football FanCast Accy Show! First up, we’re backing a treble of London Premier League clubs for outright wins—on a slip that benefits from LeoVegas Enhanced Odds. For the more cavalier, we’ve put together a pretty enticing fourfold from the EFL. Check it out and let us know what you’re backing this weekend!

1 minute read
11/12/2017 | 01:00pmWith all five English teams progressing into the knockout rounds of the Champions League, a couple were bound to be handed difficult ties.Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur were dealt the toughest draws, with the Blues taking on Barcelona and Mauricio Pochettino’s men going head to head with Juventus in the last-16 stage.After Antonio Conte’s men were stunned in a 1-0 defeat to West Ham United at the London Stadium on Saturday, the team would have been hoping for better news today.It was not to be, though, as Chelsea learned that they will have to get through th five-time European champions in order to reach the quarter-finals of the competition.It is not all doom and gloom, though, as the West London outfit can draw on their semi-final win over Barcelona in the 2011-12 season.Chelsea went on to lift the crown that season under manager Roberto Di Matteo.After the draw was announced, fans took to Twitter with their reactions, which were a mix of confidence and dread.easy 10-0 win— Nishant Ramesh (@nishantramesh37) December 11, 2017Let’s go then boys. pic.twitter.com/ZVojeYCUMf— BK (@CFCBrano) December 11, 2017It's been a good run lads time to say goodbye— R (@Legedenary) December 11, 2017Lord help us— ㅤㅤㅤ‏ً (@RightCentreHalf) December 11, 2017Now let's Go Get Them!!!!!!!!!— Avson (@avson999) December 11, 2017we're out. pic.twitter.com/YB5LZTE5vi— HUMOURn ReSauce (@Awesome_Neythan) December 11, 2017Knew that was gonna happen! We beat them before so why not now? Come on the Chels!!— Jem Haynes (@jemhaynes) December 11, 2017If we play the cards right it's not impossible to beat Barca!— 🤶ŞΔŇĐ¥🎅 (@QueenSandy_CFC) December 11, 2017

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11/12/2017 | 01:20pmManchester United have received some positive news following Sunday’s defeat to neighbours Manchester City in the Premier League.Jose Mourinho’s side avoided a horror tie in the Champions League last-16 draw, which will see all five English teams competing.United will take on Sevilla across two legs in the hope of reaching the quarter-finals of the elite competition.The North-West outfit have not played in the Champions League since the 2015-16 season, in which they failed to progress from the group stage.United were unable to claim a top-four finish in the 2016-17 league campaign, but winning the Europa League ensured their place this season.The last-16 tie will mark the first time that the two clubs have played against one another competitively.United’s arch rivals Liverpool are familiar with Sevilla having faced them twice in the group stage and drawing both games.Following the announcement of the draw, fans tweeted their reaction, which was by and large full of confidence.We win already, but ur players should be aggressive!!!#MCFC— Wasswa Emmanuel (@WasswaEmmanue14) December 11, 2017Qualified— Sunny Saharan (@Sunnysaharan111) December 11, 2017Easy win.— REGGIE 💎 (@ReggieUtd8) December 11, 2017Happy with that ⚽️🔴⚪️⚫️— Nathan Jones (@nkjones93) December 11, 2017Good team, but Im expecting a win— Zenzo Nkosi (@ZenzoNkosi) December 11, 2017Straight to the quarters! But we need to do something bout our forwards.— Nelson Mugo (@NelMugo) December 11, 2017Easy way to pass through last 8 @ManUtd— Mlungisi Mbhele (@maloada) December 11, 2017We are through to the quarter finals already— Hlalanathi Makenisi (@HMakenisi) December 11, 2017

3 minute read
12/12/2017 | 03:43pmAccording to reports in Spanish media outlet Diario Gol, Manchester United only face competition from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale, but his €90m (approximately £79.2m right now) price tag could prove to be an issue.What’s the word, then?Well, Diario Gol says that Real are willing to let the injury-hit attacker – who has missed 250 days since joining the La Liga giants in 2013 – leave the Bernabeu, but he will only leave for one of Europe’s biggest clubs and not many of those are willing to pay the money that president Florentino Perez wants for the Wales international.Diario Gol says that Perez wants to €90m (approximately £79.2m) to let the 28-year-old leave, but no one is willing to pay that fee.The report adds that the only two clubs willing to make offers below that amount are the Red Devils and Spurs, with the former not willing to negotiate until the price is reduced and the latter only willing to pay €60m (approximately £52.8m right now).How has Bale done this season?The Welshman’s injury problems have meant that he has been limited to just 10 outings so far this term, in which he has scored three goals and provided a further five assists.The 29-year-old has already suffered from calf and thigh problems during the current campaign, and despite playing 28 minutes as a substitute and picking up two assists against Fuenlabrada in the cup last month, he suffered recurrence of the calf issue which has kept him on the sidelines since.Would he be a good signing for United?He certainly would be, as long as he was fit on a regular basis.Given his injury record it is no wonder that they aren’t willing to pay around £80m for Bale’s services, but Jose Mourinho will also be well aware of the difference he could make for them in the final third because of his versatility and quality.The Wales international’s pace, dribbling ability, strength in the air and all-round goal threat would make him a superb addition, but United will be hoping Real lower their demands either during the January transfer window or next summer to make a deal possible.

1 minute read
13/12/2017 | 12:06pmPaul Pogba has confirmed that he rejected the chance to join Real Madrid in favour of returning to Manchester United in the summer of 2016.Pogba sealed a return to United ahead of the 2016-17 campaign after the Red Devils paid Juventus £89m for his services.The midfielder initially left Old Trafford in 2012 after becoming frustrated with his lack of opportunities under Sir Alex Ferguson. After a successful spell at Juventus, Pogba re-joined the 20-time English champions.Pogba, who is valued at £67.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has revealed that Real Madrid also wanted to sign him during the same summer, but the Frenchman was set on a return to United.Pogba told Beyond the Pitch:“To be honest, Real Madrid came to me and I was thinking to go there, and I was thinking to go to Manchester United too.“But I always felt it in my heart. My heart told me to come back here [Manchester], I don’t know why, I didn’t know what was going to happen. But I did it, and I don’t regret. I never regret my choice.”Pogba scored nine times in 51 appearances for United last season as the Red Devils landed the Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League.The France international has also been in impressive form during the 2017-18 campaign, although he is currently on the sidelines through suspension.

2 minute read
13/12/2017 | 07:00pmBarcelona superstar Lionel Messi has learned that Real Madrid are likely to sign Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard, according to Don Balon.What’s the word?When most top players in the Premier League are performing well, they tend to be linked with moves to Europe’s elite.Hazard’s eight goals and four assists in 21 appearances have reportedly put him on the transfer wishlists of Barcelona and Real Madrid.It is not the first time that the Belgian has been named as a potential target for the Spanish duo.This time, though, Don Balon reports that Real boss Zinedine Zidane has finally convinced club president Florentino Perez to make a move for Hazard.The publication adds that Messi has found out about the proposed deal, which gives Los Blancos an upper hand over their rivals.Could this deal finally happen?Hazard has often spoken of his commitment to Chelsea, but he has never insisted that he wants to end his career at Stamford Bridge.The playmaker has been part of the Blues’ setup since his 2012 switch from Lille and in that time has won four trophies, including two Premier League titles.A five-year stretch is a long time for a player of his calibre to stay at one club when numerous elite outfits have been keen on nabbing his signature.It seems that this summer could be the right time for Hazard to make the jump given that Real could benefit from an injection of talent.Gareth Bale has been struggling with injuries, while Cristiano Ronaldo has not failed to recreate his scintillating form in La Liga.For Chelsea, though, if Hazard departs it could be a disaster with regard to future recruitment.It could also force Antonio Conte to walk out the exit gates, particularly as he was frustrated with the transfer activity in the summer.

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Crucial Facts show that USMNT must Replace their Manager Jurgen Klinsmann in order to Progress

Losing out to Jamaica and Panama was pretty embarrassing, and a number of fans projected their dissenting voices demanding that Jurgen Klinsmann be fired. Nevertheless, some are on the contrary and want Klinsmann to remain as the head coach of United States Men’s National Team (USMNT). While the opponents complain that Klinsmann has brought nothing but misery to the USMNT, the proponents are for the view that he has done a lot of good things, and even go further to point out how he has flourished in the most recent World Cup. Going by their arguments and views, it is safe to suggest that both of these groups are right.

When penning down his contract and agreeing on different terms, U.S. soccer president Sunali Gulati agreed to make Klinsmann both the head coach and technical director of USMNT. As if that was not enough, Klinsmann was allowed to have a say in the operation of under-17 and under-20 national teams. Considering the immensity of his powers, Jurgen Klinsmann was able to create a new under-23 national team as well as influence how the Development Academy system operates. To be honest, all of these roles are too huge for one person, no matter how perfect someone is or seems to be.

During his appointment, Klinsmann was to manage the senior national team, and before meeting Jamaica, he made it clear that one of his top priorities in the 2015 summer was to win the Gold cup. However, we can confidently say Klinsmann is not walking the talk, not after fielding a team in a formation they had not played in since February 2015. Of course, Jamaicans beat the U.S. in that match and this is what he said after the match-“the luck was not with us and maybe we were not clinical enough to put it in there”. To me, that is a scapegoat. Surely, how do you expect a team to be clinical when they are playing in a formation they are not familiar with?

“Passing combination, rhythm wise, and effort wise; everything was there,” says Klinsmann after the 2-1 loss to Jamaica. “That was a lot of good stuff we saw out there; only that we could not put something in,” he adds. Well, this was not all about luck because in real sense, you cannot expect luck to come to your side when you put together an unbalanced roster and spend the group stage experimenting with personnel. Despite all the laments and complaints, it is fair to demand that head coach Klinsmann be judged by the team’s overall quality and performance rather than their results. After all, fluke losses happen to everyone, including experienced and celebrated managers.

Nevertheless, even the overall performance is not encouraging either. Looking at the USMNT performance in the World Cup, they were totally outplayed by Ghana and needed miracle goalkeeping from Tim Howard and bad finishing from the Black Stars (Ghana) to win the match. Despite outplaying Portugal, USMNT gave up a 95th minute equalizer because he (Klinsmann) decided to abruptly change the compact back four to a crowded back five late in the game, thereby, bringing in a lot of pressure, which gave Portugal a stunning chance to sneak a goal. Against Germany, the team had little to do. And in their round of 16 match against Belgium, they needed good goalkeeping and magical saves from Howard to escape the historic and somewhat embarrassing exit. That match was probably the most lopsided game of the entire World Cup after the Brazil-Germany one (which was undoubtedly the first in that category).

We note from the analysis that USMNT was only good in one match (against Portugal), which, unfortunately, was also tainted by a bad coaching decision that directly resulted in dropping two crucial points. If we are to judge Klinsmann on results then World Cup was definitely a job well done. But if we are to judge him on overall quality and performance then we can say confidently that his tenure has experienced more than a few shaky moments. Back-to-back bad finishes against Jamaica and Guatemala in the third round of World Cup qualifying brought the United States at the brink of not even making the Hex. Ideally, they needed a 90th minute magic goal to see off Antigua and Barbuda. While their barren draw at Estadio Azteca is quite motivating, Costa Rica and Jamaica achieved the same result away to Mexico, while Honduras recorded a win.

Therefore, going by these facts, it is really hard to defend USMNT’s current head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Perhaps the time has come for the U.S. to try something new under someone new. After all, nothing is as good as change.

Choose

Pioneering Oklahoma energy CEO dies in fiery car crash

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Aubrey McClendon, a natural gas industry titan, was killed when police say he drove his sport utility vehicle ”straight into a wall” in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, a day after he was indicted on a charge of conspiring to rig bids to buy oil and natural gas leases in northwest Oklahoma.
Police Capt. Paco Balderrama said McClendon, co-founder of Chesapeake Energy and a part-owner of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, was the only occupant in the vehicle when it slammed into a concrete bridge embankment shortly after 9 a.m..

The NBA just can't get enough of Michael Beasley. The Houston Rockets are expected to sign the MVP of the Chinese Basketball Association, ESPN reported Wednesday.

Beasley, the former No. 2-overall pick in 2008, played in 24 games last season for the Heat, averaging 8.8 points. The Rockets would be the fourth team that has taken a chance on Beasley, who has averaged 13 points and 4.8 rebounds during his seven-year career.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Aubrey McClendon, a natural gas industry titan, was killed when police say he drove his sport utility vehicle ''straight into a wall'' in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, a day after he was indicted on a charge of conspiring to rig bids to buy oil and natural gas leases in northwest Oklahoma. Police Capt. Paco Balderrama said McClendon, co-founder of Chesapeake Energy and a part-owner of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder, was the only occupant in the vehicle when it slammed into a concrete bridge embankment shortly after 9 a.m. ''He pretty much drove straight into the wall,'' Balderrama said. ''The information out there at the scene is that he went left of center, went through a grassy area right before colliding into the embankment. There was plenty of opportunity for him to correct and get back on the roadway and that didn't occur.''

McClendon's death follows an announcement Tuesday that he had been indicted by a federal grand jury. Balderrama says it's too early to say whether the collision was intentional. He said McClendon was not wearing a seat belt and that he was driving faster than the 50 mph speed limit. The Department of Justice said in a statement Tuesday that McClendon, 56, was suspected of orchestrating a scheme between two large energy companies, which are not named in the indictment, from December 2007 to March 2012. The companies would decide ahead of time who would win bids, with the winner then allocating an interest in the leases to the other company, according to the statement. In a statement released Tuesday after his indictment, McClendon denied violating antitrust laws. ''The charge that has been filed against me today is wrong and unprecedented,'' McClendon said. ''Anyone who knows me, my business record and the industry in which I have worked for 35 years, knows that I could not be guilty of violating any antitrust laws.

All my life I have worked to create jobs in Oklahoma, grow its economy, and to provide abundant and affordable energy to all Americans. I am proud of my track record in this industry, and I will fight to prove my innocence and to clear my name.'' Department of Justice spokesman Mark Abueg declined to comment on the impact McClendon's death would have on the case. McClendon could frequently be spotted in his courtside seats near the Thunder bench in the arena named after the company he founded in 1989 with his friend, Tom Ward, with an initial $50,000 investment. They eventually grew the company into one of the largest independent producers of natural gas in the United States.

He left the company in January 2013 amid philosophical differences with a new board of directors, and founded American Energy Partners, where he was chairman and CEO. ''Aubrey's tremendous leadership, vision, and passion for the energy industry had an impact on the community, the country, and the world,'' AEP said in a statement. ''We are tremendously proud of his legacy and will continue to work hard to live up to the unmatched standards he set for excellence and integrity.'' McClendon was renowned for his aggression and skill in acquiring oil and gas drilling rights. As drillers learned to unlock natural gas from shale formations over the last decade, McClendon pushed the company to acquire enormous tracts of land in several states.

The strategy landed the company promising assets, boosted the company's own production and helped fuel the national boom in natural gas production. But it saddled Chesapeake with enormous debt. Chesapeake eventually became victim of its own success. Natural gas prices plummeted along with all the new drilling by Chesapeake and its peers, reducing revenues for the company and making the debt harder to repay. Chesapeake's 20-acre campus sprawls through an exclusive area of Oklahoma City, its Georgian-style brick buildings surrounded by manicured lawns and sycamore and elm trees. McClendon's death is the second fatal crash this year connected to the Thunder organization. Assistant coach Monty Williams' wife, Ingrid, died Feb. 10 after she was involved in a head-on crash in Oklahoma City. --- Follow Sean Murphy at www.twitter.com/apseanmurphy

Brand Names: Duac Acanya, BenzaClinGeneric Name: topical Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Benzaclin
BenzaClin Gel is a medication that contains a combined formula of clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide and is used to treat acne
Benzoyl peroxide is an antiseptic/ antibacterial. But it has a mild drying effect on skin that prevents excess oil production.
Clindamycin is an antibiotic compound that inhibits the growth of bacteria
Directions:

Before you start using this medication, let the pharmacist or doctor know about your allergies, especially if you are allergic to benzoyl peroxide, lincomycin or clindamycin. Even if there are some allergies not related to medicines.

Use exactly as prescribed by the doctor.

Do not apply or intake in amounts more than prescribed, it will only increase side effects without accelerating the effectiveness.

Do not let it enter your eyes, nose, mouth or on lips. If it does get in these areas then wash with water immediately.

Do not apply on skin that is sunburned or dry or wounded.

Tell your doctor if conditions do not improve or worsen.

Precautions:

Wash the area of application with a mild cleanser

Do not use if you have allergy towards either clindamycin or benzoyl.

Wash your hands before and after applying

Do not use if you have ulcerative colitis or inflammation of intestines.

Do not use if you ever had severe diarrhea caused by use of antibiotics.

Apply daily, twice a day, during morning and evening.

Do not use if you have certain intestinal disorders.

The effects of this medicine on fetus is unknown, hence pregnant women should not use it.

Breastfeeding women should not use, because it is not known whether the med can absorb into the milk or not.

Do not use this medication if you are currently battling some other serious medical conditions.

The medicine does not work very fast so show patience and complete prescribed amount.

Store in a cool and dry place, away from sunlight, heat and moisture. But do not freeze either

Throw away when the expiary date has reached which is usually after 3 months.

Benzoyl peroxide is a bleaching agent for fabrics and hair .So Do not let this medicine have any contact with hair or clothes
Missed Dose
Whenever you remember the missed dose, apply it immediately
If it is almost time for the next dose than skip the missed dose and apply the scheduled one.
Overdose
Seek immediate medical attention in case a reaction, allergy or harmful symptoms develop.
Symptoms of overdose due to excessive absorption in body include:

bloody diarrhea,

watery diarrhea

Avoid

Avoid using those skin products that cause drying and irritation, which includes harsh soaps and skin cleansers

Do not expose skin to sunlight or tanning beds. Wear sunscreen out door.

Do not use hair dyes or permanent chemicals on hair or skin while you are using this medicine.,

Do not use hair removal chemicals or hair removal waxes while you are currently on prescription.

Do not use skin products that constitute alcohol, astringents, spices or lime.

Do not use extra skin products that are also medicated, except if the doctor advised to.

Antibiotics can give rise to secondary new infections, such as diarrhea. If you start having diarrhea which has water blood in it, then get medical advice and attention before using any other medicine for the diarrhea.

Do not start any new medication for some other condition before telling the doctor.

Cystic acne is a severe type of acne vulgaris that affects the skin tissue that is more deeper down than common acne. Cystic acne happens to be a type of abscess that occurs when oil ducts get infected, the ones which are commonly under skin. Due to this reason, cystic pimples will usually appear to originate further underneath the surface than common pimples.
SeverityCystic acne is one of those acne types that are most difficult to cure, although regular acne is originated by the same bacteria called ‘P.acnes’. It consists of very painful lesions and have greater probability of scarring the skin tissue in comparison to moderate or mild level of severity. It is very common that after the cystic acne has been cured it leaves behind deep scars for the victim to battle with for a year or two, before they can fade.
Occurrence
Severe cystic acne is more common in men but women can get it too. Women usually have cystic acne on the lower half of the face.
Cause
They are caused by clogged up pores that get filled with oil and dead skin which then becomes inflamed.They turn into cystic acne when the pore ruptures, hence causing the inflammation to spill out and spread into the surrounding tissue. The cyst is actually the secretions of the body that prevents the inflammation from spreading further. They appear to be swollen, red bumps on the face. These pimples reside underneath the deeper skin's surface and they never form any whiteheads or black-heads, and this makes them difficult to pop.
Precaution
If they are treated incorrectly, the condition will aggravate, especially if you try to squeeze or extract them, which will push the infection even further below the skin's surface. Cystic acne hurts because they are inflamed and the swelling affects nearby nerve fibers which resultantly arouses pain.

Cause:

1-Hormones:
The skin's oil glands become hypersensitive to excess male hormones, theAndrogen hormone which is commonly produced in abundance during puberty, women also have male hormones that can trigger and react by overproducing sebum. So much sebum and oil is being produced that the follicle gland becomes clogged and swollen with the over stimulated sebaceous glands, it gets stuck in pores and sticks with bacteria. The bacteria start to multiply, causing an inflammation that forms a cystic pimple. Not being able to excrete out any of the extra material to the surface, the gland then bursts beneath the skin, and creates a swollen mass called a nodule or cyst, that is large in size, and situated below the surface. Although not a lot is known about the main cause of why some people get cystic acne, there is likely a genetic component involved. It is most likely to occur during:

The onset of puberty

Pregnancy

Menstrual cycle

menopause

2-Stress: While you are under pressure, your stress level rises and your body responds by stimulating the production of a hormone called cortisol which is also a hormone that over stimulates oil glands.
Appearance of Cystic Acne
Cystic acne nodules appear to be raised red bumps that are situated deep beneath the skin surface.

They do not have a whitehead opening, but it can be otherwise.

They are always painful at touch and even when not touched.

lesions of cystic acne can usually be felt to be present beneath the skin even when they have not yet appeared on the surface.

The specific appearance of the cystic acne lesion is due to the oil gland damage, which causes intense inflammation which results in soreness and swelling.
Scarring
Due to the deep situated position of these lesions, any squeezing or picking can be ineffective and rather extends the healing time that it takes, as well as increase the risk of permanent scarring. Scarring is more common in cystic acne because of the collagen-damaging infection of deep tissue. Cystic acne scars are of three forms:

Atrophic scars: sunken but shallow, can be effectively treated.

Boxcar-shaped scars: harder to treat.

Ice pick-shaped scars: narrow and deep.

Treatment
Many dermatologists regard the cystic category as the most severe type and admit that traditional treatments are usually ineffective on them. It is not possible to completely avoid development of cystic acne, a person is either prone to it, or not. But you can minimize its occurrence or severity.

Spot Treatment:Apply a warm compress for few minutes about three times a day, in order to bring the pimple to a head. Dab acne gel on it to dry it up.

Common sense skin-care tips for treatment:

Keep skin-care routine simple and follow it with regularity.

Use gentle but effective cleansers because harsh cleansers will make conditions worse.

Avoid bar soaps.

Avoid scrubs and exfoliation.

Apply benzoyl peroxide as antiseptic for the bacteria in pores.

Never use thick moisturizers in form of creams since these can clog pores, rather use lightweight gels.

Traditional therapy may be of help, but most often that is not the case. If these treatments are not successful after even four weeks of daily treatment, then see a dermatologist.
Procedures

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT):It has promising results, a series of PDT treatments can reduce the size and opening of oil glands so that less amount of oil is produced in the pores and, also destroys bacteria which can minimizes breakouts. This procedure involves a topical application of a photosensitizing cream on which repeated, controlled blue or red LED light exposure is projected. The treatment takes several visits to a dermatologist and time of a few months

Oral Antibiotics:There are several types of oral antibiotics available and are options for short-term. Side effects are limited to nausea, dizziness, headache, rash and gastro-intestinal problems for example diarrhea and abdominal pain. Oral antibiotics should also be used along with topical products. The most common antibiotics available by prescription are:

Tetracycline
Doxycycline
Minocycline

Hormone Therapy:For women the constant over production of androgens causes cystic acne. Drugs which block the production of androgens can be helpful, these prescription drugs are have side effects too.

Isotretinoin:Isotretinoin is an oral medication that directly affects the oil gland by changing its shape and stopping excretion of oil. Isotretinoin has serious side-effects. There is Risk to a fetus if you are pregnant, dry skin, hair loss, nose bleeds and liver function problems.

Lancing:or draining the cyst with a sharp needle is a medical procedure, best done under supervision of a licensed professional. Improper lancing results in scarring and infection.

Cortisone Shot: In this procerure, pimple is injected with cortisone, a steroid that reduces inflammation under the skin and shrinks swelling around the infection. Within six hours the pimple disappears.

Advice

Do not touch the cysts or pick at blemishes, that will push the infection deeper spread it.

Just relax. Stress causes body to release certain hormones which make acne worse.

Follow a healthy lifestyle. Do not compromise yoursleep and exercise routine.

Have a low-glycemic diet which limits sugar and suppress symptoms.

Losing out to Jamaica and Panama was pretty embarrassing, and a number of fans projected their dissenting voices demanding that Jurgen Klinsmann be fired. Nevertheless, some are on the contrary and want Klinsmann to remain as the head coach of United States Men’s National Team (USMNT). While the opponents complain that Klinsmann has brought nothing but misery to the USMNT, the proponents are for the view that he has done a lot of good things, and even go further to point out how he has flourished in the most recent World Cup. Going by their arguments and views, it is safe to suggest that both of these groups are right.

When penning down his contract and agreeing on different terms, U.S. soccer president Sunali Gulati agreed to make Klinsmann both the head coach and technical director of USMNT. As if that was not enough, Klinsmann was allowed to have a say in the operation of under-17 and under-20 national teams. Considering the immensity of his powers, Jurgen Klinsmann was able to create a new under-23 national team as well as influence how the Development Academy system operates. To be honest, all of these roles are too huge for one person, no matter how perfect someone is or seems to be.

During his appointment, Klinsmann was to manage the senior national team, and before meeting Jamaica, he made it clear that one of his top priorities in the 2015 summer was to win the Gold cup. However, we can confidently say Klinsmann is not walking the talk, not after fielding a team in a formation they had not played in since February 2015. Of course, Jamaicans beat the U.S. in that match and this is what he said after the match-“the luck was not with us and maybe we were not clinical enough to put it in there”. To me, that is a scapegoat. Surely, how do you expect a team to be clinical when they are playing in a formation they are not familiar with?

“Passing combination, rhythm wise, and effort wise; everything was there,” says Klinsmann after the 2-1 loss to Jamaica. “That was a lot of good stuff we saw out there; only that we could not put something in,” he adds. Well, this was not all about luck because in real sense, you cannot expect luck to come to your side when you put together an unbalanced roster and spend the group stage experimenting with personnel. Despite all the laments and complaints, it is fair to demand that head coach Klinsmann be judged by the team’s overall quality and performance rather than their results. After all, fluke losses happen to everyone, including experienced and celebrated managers.

Nevertheless, even the overall performance is not encouraging either. Looking at the USMNT performance in the World Cup, they were totally outplayed by Ghana and needed miracle goalkeeping from Tim Howard and bad finishing from the Black Stars (Ghana) to win the match. Despite outplaying Portugal, USMNT gave up a 95th minute equalizer because he (Klinsmann) decided to abruptly change the compact back four to a crowded back five late in the game, thereby, bringing in a lot of pressure, which gave Portugal a stunning chance to sneak a goal. Against Germany, the team had little to do. And in their round of 16 match against Belgium, they needed good goalkeeping and magical saves from Howard to escape the historic and somewhat embarrassing exit. That match was probably the most lopsided game of the entire World Cup after the Brazil-Germany one (which was undoubtedly the first in that category).

We note from the analysis that USMNT was only good in one match (against Portugal), which, unfortunately, was also tainted by a bad coaching decision that directly resulted in dropping two crucial points. If we are to judge Klinsmann on results then World Cup was definitely a job well done. But if we are to judge him on overall quality and performance then we can say confidently that his tenure has experienced more than a few shaky moments. Back-to-back bad finishes against Jamaica and Guatemala in the third round of World Cup qualifying brought the United States at the brink of not even making the Hex. Ideally, they needed a 90th minute magic goal to see off Antigua and Barbuda. While their barren draw at Estadio Azteca is quite motivating, Costa Rica and Jamaica achieved the same result away to Mexico, while Honduras recorded a win.

Therefore, going by these facts, it is really hard to defend USMNT’s current head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Perhaps the time has come for the U.S. to try something new under someone new. After all, nothing is as good as change.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Quinton Dial had been cut from the San Francisco 49ers when he received a text from an old college teammate from Alabama.

Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix had figured out that Green Bay was interested in bringing Dial in for a visit. The scheme that the Packers run was similar to what Dial and Clinton-Dix played in with the Crimson Tide, and what the 49ers used to run before switching to a 4-3 system this year.

Dial was not happy about the change in schemes.

“I’m just being honest with you. It’s the business. It was (49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s) decision and that’s what we wanted and that’s what he went with.”

Throw in the fact that the Packers are one of the favorites in the NFC to get to the Super Bowl, and signing in Green Bay seemed like an ideal fit.

Clinton-Dix smiled after practice on Thursday when he looked across the locker room and saw his friend wearing the same uniform again.

“We came in together at Alabama. He’s been a guy that I’ve always looked up to,” Clinton-Dix said about his new teammate. “He’ll fit in fine. It’s the same system we ran back in college (and) he’s really familiar with it.”

There is a bit of a learning curve with a new playbook.

“It’s basically all the same stuff, just getting acclimated to the terminology,” Dial said.

The five-year veteran is the latest addition in a flurry of an uncharacteristically high number of free agent signings or veteran additions for the Packers, at least under general manager Ted Thompson.

In the past week, the Packers have added Dial and his former 49ers teammate, linebacker Ahmad Brooks. They also claimed defensive end Chris Odom off waivers from the Atlanta Falcons.

The 6-foot-5, 318-pound Dial appeared in 46 games with 32 starts for the 49ers, with 175 tackles and 4 sacks. He’ll be asked to provide veteran depth up front after the Packers released lineman Letroy Guion earlier in the preseason.

Dial doesn’t seem too worried about the adjustment to a Green Bay scheme that’s based on a 3-4 look.

“It’s kind of my bread and butter, this 3-4 deal. I’ve kind of been doing this for a while now,” Dial said.

Clinton-Dix described Dial as “physical, accountable” and a playmaker.

Sounds a lot like what Clinton-Dix has become in Green Bay. He’s coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance, combining with strong safety Morgan Burnett to form one of the league’s best safety tandems.

They’ll encounter another top safety duo on Sunday in Seattle’s Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.

“Being that those two guys (are) elite safeties on their team, two guys that I look up to and have so much respect for, I feel like when I play against their team, I have to showcase my skills and show I am one of the best guys in this league,” Clinton-Dix said.

Clinton-Dix and Dial will also be tasked with helping to stop another former Alabama teammate in running back Eddie Lacy. He’ll make his debut with the Seahawks after spending his first four seasons in the league in Green Bay.

“Me personally, I don’t plan on letting him get anything going on this field here,” Clinton-Dix said. “But he’s definitely going to have a chip on his shoulder and he’s definitely got a point to prove coming in here.”

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — South Florida and UConn called off their scheduled football game Saturday because of the threat to Florida posed by Hurricane Irma.

No makeup date was immediately announced. The teams do not share an off week this season.

The schools had moved up the kickoff from noon to 10:30 a.m., hoping that would give the Bulls enough time to play in Connecticut and get back to Tampa in advance of the storm.

Officials decided Friday that the hurricane poses too much of a threat to ensure the USF team safe travel.

Mark Harlan, USF’s athletic director, says the school also took into consideration the concerns of team members and their families, many of whom have homes in the projected path of the storm.

The University of South Florida System has closed its campuses Thursday through at least Sunday.

Left-handed starter and top-tier prospect Luiz Gohara arrived in Atlanta to continue the ongoing youth movement in the Braves’ rotation.

Does his MLB debut alter plans for the 2018 rotation? Plus, where does he fit on the Braves’ 2017 All-Prospect Team? Zach Dillard and Cory McCartney discuss.

Jose Altuve is at the top of nearly everyone's AL MVP list, but Mike Trout is high on Ken Rosenthal's — and there's still time for him to make things even more interesting.

Michael Vick and Tony Gonzalez join Chris Myers to give a unique look at Vick's passing form when he rolled out of the pocket.

- I just believe that as long as he's in New England, which will be this year, I just don't see how they keep he and Jimmy Garoppolo, both will be $20-plus million quarterbacks on that roster.

- OK, and the amazing thing about that is I believe Tom Brady believes he's playing for his job this year, because he sees the handwriting on the wall. They didn't trade Jimmy G. They traded that third string guy, right?

- Yep. Yep.

- So Bill decided Jacoby Brissett, no long term answer. So I'm willing to give him up. Usually I'd say, don't trade a quarterback for a receiver.

- Or I can get me another Jacoby Brissett in the draft.

- OK, well he will. But it's clear now that he's willing to hang on to Jimmy Garoppolo, and that-- you and I agree-- next year just on salary cap alone it's going to force Jimmy Garoppolo to be the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots. I believe that they're going to have to either give Tom a parting gift and just say, we cut you so you can go pick where you want to go, or you can try-- you can trade him to wherever you want him to go. But I don't think Mr. Kraft would do that Tom Brady.

METAIRIE, La. — Adrian Peterson suggests it is “crazy” to assume he isn’t still one of the best running backs in the NFL just because he’s 32 years old and has had two knee surgeries.

In a few days, the new Saints running back gets his chance to demonstrate his point against the team that let him go in the city where he became arguably the best ball carrier of his generation.

“I’m pretty excited about it — just trying to keep myself calm until Monday night comes around,” said Peterson, who spent all of his previous 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. “I’m looking for amazing things to happen for me and our team.”

Peterson’s logic is “just based on the work that I put in and just honestly the God-given ability I’ve been blessed with.”

The Saints have been relatively cautious with Peterson, who missed most of last season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He played only a few snaps in the preseason, with just a handful of carries for 2 to 3 yards each and one screen pass that lost a yard.

Last year’s knee surgery was his second. Then again, his career-best 2,097 yards rushing in 2012 came one year after his first knee surgery, an ACL reconstruction.

Peterson also likes to point out that he led the NFL with 1,485 yards rushing in 2015, “behind a mediocre offensive line,” he added, after missing 15 games the previous season, when he was dealing with the legal and public relations fallout from his use of force to discipline his then-4-year-old son.

With his first Saints camp under his belt, Peterson asserts, “I’m back and I’m healthy.”

“It’s just always crazy sitting back and seeing how, just because, you know, I’m 32 now, people say, `Oh, well, he’s losing it because this back or that back lost it around that time,'” Peterson said after practice Thursday . “But you erase the (2015) season when I came back after sitting out for a year and led the league in rushing.”

Peterson also noted that while the type of meniscus surgery he had typically requires about six months’ rehabilitation, he spent $10,000 per week of his own money for special treatments that helped accelerate his recovery so that he could try to play late last season. He got back for one game in mid-December, but with Minnesota out of the playoffs and a groin injury surfacing, he was taken out of the lineup again for the final two games.

“I didn’t leave anything on the table,” Peterson said. “I gave it my all, with everything that I did.”

Peterson signed his free-agent contract with New Orleans shortly after the NFL schedule came out, pitting the Saints against Minnesota in Week 1. But Peterson noted that the deal was virtually done before the schedule was released, and only technical contract language remained to be hashed out.

Peterson maintains that he was willing, after last season, to try to work out a new deal to stay in Minnesota after it became clear the Vikings wouldn’t exercise his $18 million option , but took the Vikings’ signing of Latavius Murray as his cue to look for a new team.

“For me to have an exit meeting and the next time I talked to them I was getting a call at 1 o’clock in the morning saying we’re signing Latavius Murray, that’s no ego blow for me,” Peterson said matter-of-factly. “For me, that’s motivation. Congratulations. Now I can move on and take my abilities somewhere else.”

He has taken them to a team that won’t need him to be the workhorse he’s been since his rookie season out of Oklahoma in 2007, when he set the NFL single-game rushing record with 296 yards. Now he’s in the backfield with a record-setting quarterback in Drew Brees, who led the NFL in passing last season for a record seventh time.

Peterson describes the breadth and intricacies of Saints coach Sean Payton’s playbook as “something I have never seen.”

“I’m sure I’ll have my opportunities,” Peterson said. “But when you have that many playmakers, you have to put them in the game.”

And while Peterson doesn’t hide his eagerness to make his Saints debut in Minnesota, he said he still very much appreciates his time there, expects to one day be in their ring of honor and is even looking forward to receiving in his Minneapolis hotel room some chocolate chip cookies a particular fan who has long baked for the Vikings, and who said she would leave some for him this year as well.

Peterson added that as long as the Saints win, he doesn’t really care how they do it, adding that he doesn’t want to his highly hyped return to Minnesota to be a distraction for his team.

For their part, his teammates don’t seem to mind.

“No matter how much you want to play that down, he’s one of, if not the greatest player in that organization’s history and they made a decision to let him go and we were fortunate enough to grab him,” right tackle Zach Strief said. “I don’t know that there’s grudges held, but I think it would be inhuman not to have a desire to play well against your former team. … We’re excited to get to go out and play with him.”

Alexis Sanchez aired out his frustrations after two losses with Chile, but he now has to find a way to push on as he returns to Arsenal.

Regan Smith and Jeff Hammond compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of regular season champ Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson as the Cup series readies for the playoffs.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas starting quarterback Shane Buechele did not throw in practice again Thursday because of a bruised shoulder and coach Tom Herman says his status against San Jose State will be a game-day decision.

Buechele is 5-8 in his career as a starter. He threw for 375 yards and two touchdowns last week in a season-opening loss to Maryland. He finished the game but hasn’t thrown in practice since.

If Buechele can’t play Saturday, freshman Sam Ehlinger will start with wide receiver Jerrod Heard as the emergency option for the Longhorns. Heard is a former quarterback who started much of the 2015 season when Texas finished 5-7.

Buechele set a Texas freshman record last season with nearly 3,000 yards passing and 21 touchdowns.

HOUSTON (AP) — J.J. Watt was ready to discuss his preparations for the Houston Texans’ opener — and his return from a back injury that sidelined him for most of last season.

But first he took a few moments to receive yet another donation — the biggest one yet — to a fundraising effort he set up in the days after Hurricane Harvey.

Watt accepted the check for $5 million from HEB Grocery Company, giving him more than $28 million in donations. Then he discussed how he’s handled getting back to football with the city just beginning to recover from the storm.

“It’s obviously a balance … I’ve had a foundation my whole career,” Watt said. “I’ve been doing things like this my whole career, obviously not on this scale, but when I’m in meetings, when I’m at practice, when I’m in the weight room, that’s where 100 percent of my focus is.”

Watt leaves his cellphone on airplane mode when he’s at the facility so he can handle football duties without interruption. He joked about being so busy getting ready for the game that he hadn’t yet reached out to Jimmy Fallon to thank him for the $1 million he donated to Watt’s fund on Tuesday night.

“I appreciate him and sorry, Jimmy, you can look out for an email from me here as soon as practice is over,” Watt said.

Sunday’s game against Jacksonville will be Watt’s first since Sept. 22 after his second back surgery forced him to miss the final 13 games of last season. And while his attention is on making sure he’s ready for that game, he certainly knows what Sunday’s game could mean to the city.

“This is so much bigger than a game, but for three hours on Sunday, we want to take people’s minds off of everything that just happened,” he said. “We want to give them an escape from everything that just happened, so I know for a fact that our guys are going to give every single thing that we have to make sure that we put a smile on this city’s face and give them something to cheer about for three hours.”

The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year can’t wait to get back on the field after missing the first games of his six-year career last season. The Texans believe he’ll return to form in no time.

“He’s had an excellent preseason. He’s fully healthy,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “I think I’ve said this now a 1,000 times. It’s hard to describe what it’s like to block him, so it’s been very difficult. I would expect him to go out there, be his usual self (and) play very well.”

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — When Adrian Peterson wore purple, the revered running back was naturally off limits for Minnesota’s defense during practice.

Such will be the strange sight in Minnesota on Monday night, when Peterson lines up in the New Orleans backfield with his white, black and gold Saints jersey and his old friends eagerly eyeing him up from the other side.

“Everson Griffen. Without a doubt,” Peterson said, predicting the Vikings player most interested in making contact with the franchise’s all-time leading rusher.

“He’s my boy, but we went back and forth in practice a lot, and he talks a lot of trash. I’m kind of quiet. I don’t say much. But he’ll be amped up to try to hit me.”

Griffen will have plenty of help, when the Vikings host Peterson and the Saints in a season opener overflowing with made-for-TV story lines.

“I’m not going to back down from him,” Rhodes said. “He told me that we’re going to see how that ends.”

How Peterson’s remarkable career concludes remains a mystery, though at age 32 it’s clearly in the twilight stage regardless of his freak-of-nature physical condition and lifelong spirit of determination.

He’ll start with the Saints as a part-time player, with the established Mark Ingram and the rookie Alvin Kamara sharing the carries and catches out of the backfield in this Drew Brees-led, pass-first offense.

“I think it’ll be an adjustment for a couple weeks going in, because I’m used to being in there at all times,” Peterson said, adding: “I knew what I was getting myself into. I know there’s going to be times when I carry the load and there’s going to be times when the load is not as heavy, you know?”

After Peterson was limited to 72 yards on 37 carries by a right knee injury and a leaky offensive line last season, the Vikings predictably declined the $18 million option on his contract and signed free agent Latavius Murray from Oakland instead.

Then they drafted Dalvin Cook out of Florida State. Peterson eventually picked the Saints for the opportunity to play close to his east Texas roots and suburban Houston home and behind the 10-time Pro Bowler Brees.

While Peterson will be plenty motivated in his return to Minnesota against a Vikings team not cool with him stealing their show, the prime-time kickoff and national TV audience for the start to another season will ultimately steer the emotions of the participants on both sides.

Brees led the NFL in passing yards for a record seventh time in 2016. In five games against the Vikings, he’s 4-1 with a 69 percent completion rate and an average of 294 yards passing per game. He has only thrown four interceptions and been sacked four times.

“He’s got an unbelievable arm, too, but one of the things that sets him apart, I think, is he’s so quick getting rid of the football, knowing where to go to the different spots,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “He really is a Hall of Fame kind of quarterback.”

CENTER OF ATTENTION

The Vikings have a long history of excellence at the center position, dating to the arrival of eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame member Mick Tingelhoff in the franchise’s second season. Tingelhoff (six), Jeff Christy (two) and Matt Birk (six) combined for 14 selections for the Pro Bowl. Now third-round draft pick Pat Elflein will be the first rookie to start at center since Tingelhoff in 1962.

“You don’t want to stress yourself out and freak out and make it bigger than it is,” Elflein said. “Be excited, but don’t overexcite yourself.”

SLOW STARTS

The Saints have finished 7-9 after starting 1-3 in each of the past three seasons. They’ve lost three straight openers.

FORMER COLLEAGUES

Payton and Zimmer were once assistants together on the staff of coach Bill Parcells with the Dallas Cowboys, and both of them continue to call Parcells often for advice in their current role.

“He is a heck of a coach, smart,” Zimmer said. “We got a chance to go against each other every day at practice. He was very innovative.”

SITTING OUT

Brees will be without wide receiver Willie Snead, who’s suspended for the first three games. Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford will miss wide receiver Michael Floyd, who is facing a four-game suspension. Both punishments are for drunken driving offenses.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Lexi Thompson shot a 9-under 63 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over Sandra Gal and Kris Tamulis in the LPGA Tour’s inaugural Indy Women in Tech Championship.

Thompson had 11 birdies and two bogeys to fall a stroke short of the Brickyard Crossing record set by Mike McCullough in the PGA Tour Champions’ 1999 Comfort Classic.

”It was quite the early morning, so it was a bit cold on the range and struggled a bit on the range, but I just hit a few good drivers at the end,” Thompson said. ”I just committed to one thing going into the round and I think that’s what made my day a lot easier on me. I just stuck to my routine and committed to my golf shots.”

Gal, like Thompson, started her morning round on the back nine that features four holes inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Gal hit 12 of 14 fairways in regulation in her bogey-free round.

”It’s cool, it’s funky. I really do like the course,” Gal said. ”I think it has really good challenges off the tee and the greens, and it’s cool being inside the track. It gets a little bit windy in there actually. It’s just so big, it’s unbelievable to be in there.”

Tamulis had the best afternoon score with four birdies on each side.

”I think actually just worrying about the hurricane makes me feel like golf’s not a big deal, so I just hit it where I was looking, made some putts,” said Tamulis, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Thompson, the 22-year-old Florida player ranked No. 3 in the world, tied for 21st last week in Portland, Oregon, in her first event since the Solheim Cup – where she overcame a big deficit in her closing singles match against Anna Nordqvist to earn a half-point for the winning Americans.

”I would say that round definitely gave me the confidence that I can make those birdies if I just let it go and fire at pins and commit to my shots and don’t doubt it,” Thompson said. ”That’s how golf is. Golf is a lot about confidence and just committing to yourself and believing in yourself, something I’m learning along the way.”

Taking advantage of the wide fairways and forgiving greens softened by overnight rain, Thompson birdied three of the first five holes. She has seven birdies and a bogey in an eight-hole stretch from No. 17 to No. 6, and rebounded from a bogey on No. 8 with a birdie on No. 9.

”It was just two really bad iron shots and just ended up bogeying,” Thompson said. ”But for the most part, I hit it great. Just hit a few bad shots with the bogeys, but I’m definitely not complaining.”

She won at Kingsmill in May for her eighth career victory.

The 32-year-old Gal needed a little more time to get started. After opening with five straight pars, the German player birdied six of the next seven holes and closed with two more birdies at Nos. 5 and 9.

”I’ve been feeling like my game’s been pretty good the last couple months, but I just haven’t been scoring, so everything just came together,” Gal said. ”I think I also had a good attitude. I felt like I enjoyed it a little bit more out there.”

Lydia Ko, winless in more than a year, was two shot back at 65 along with Moriya Jutanugarn.

”It’s nice to get off to a really solid start,” Ko said. ”I’ve been struggling the last few months, so it’s nice to be able to put myself in a different rhythm. And I was with a really good group with Anna and Stacy (Lewis). Obviously, Stacy winning last week, it’s really nice to play alongside them.”

Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Amy Olsonshot 66, and Cristie Kerr and Brooke Henderson topped the group at 67.

”It’s so different than every other golf course that we get to play,” Henderson said. ”It’s in amazing condition and it really makes you think all the way around, which I think is good for my game.”

Lewis opened with a 72. The Houston player donated her winnings last week in Portland to hurricane relief efforts in her hometown area.

Nordqvist had a 74.

Danielle Kang tried to play through a leg infection, but withdrew before finishing the round.

The 54-hole event ends Saturday.

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Adrian Peterson suggests it is “crazy” to assume he isn’t still one of the best running backs in the NFL just because he’s 32 years old and has had two knee surgeries.

In a few days, the new Saints running back gets his chance to demonstrate his point against the team that let him go in the city where he became arguably the best ball carrier of his generation.

“I’m pretty excited about it — just trying to keep myself calm until Monday night comes around,” said Peterson, who spent all of his previous 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. “I’m looking for amazing things to happen for me and our team.”

Peterson’s logic is “just based on the work that I put in and just honestly the God-given ability I’ve been blessed with.”

The Saints have been relatively cautious with Peterson, who missed most of last season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He played only a few snaps in the preseason, with just a handful of carries for 2 to 3 yards each and one screen pass that lost a yard.

Last year’s knee surgery was his second. Then again, his career-best 2,097 yards rushing in 2012 came one year after his first knee surgery, an ACL reconstruction.

Peterson also likes to point out that he led the NFL with 1,485 yards rushing in 2015, “behind a mediocre offensive line,” he added, after missing 15 games the previous season, when he was dealing with the legal and public relations fallout from his use of force to discipline his then-4-year-old son.

With his first Saints camp under his belt, Peterson asserts, “I’m back and I’m healthy.”

“It’s just always crazy sitting back and seeing how, just because, you know, I’m 32 now, people say, `Oh, well, he’s losing it because this back or that back lost it around that time,'” Peterson said after practice Thursday . “But you erase the (2015) season when I came back after sitting out for a year and led the league in rushing.”

Peterson also noted that while the type of meniscus surgery he had typically requires about six months’ rehabilitation, he spent $10,000 per week of his own money for special treatments that helped accelerate his recovery so that he could try to play late last season. He got back for one game in mid-December, but with Minnesota out of the playoffs and a groin injury surfacing, he was taken out of the lineup again for the final two games.

“I didn’t leave anything on the table,” Peterson said. “I gave it my all, with everything that I did.”

Peterson signed his free-agent contract with New Orleans shortly after the NFL schedule came out, pitting the Saints against Minnesota in Week 1. But Peterson noted that the deal was virtually done before the schedule was released, and only technical contract language remained to be hashed out.

Peterson maintains that he was willing, after last season, to try to work out a new deal to stay in Minnesota after it became clear the Vikings wouldn’t exercise his $18 million option , but took the Vikings’ signing of Latavius Murray as his cue to look for a new team.

“For me to have an exit meeting and the next time I talked to them I was getting a call at 1 o’clock in the morning saying we’re signing Latavius Murray, that’s no ego blow for me,” Peterson said matter-of-factly. “For me, that’s motivation. Congratulations. Now I can move on and take my abilities somewhere else.”

He has taken them to a team that won’t need him to be the workhorse he’s been since his rookie season out of Oklahoma in 2007, when he set the NFL single-game rushing record with 296 yards. Now he’s in the backfield with a record-setting quarterback in Drew Brees, who led the NFL in passing last season for a record seventh time.

Peterson describes the breadth and intricacies of Saints coach Sean Payton’s playbook as “something I have never seen.”

“I’m sure I’ll have my opportunities,” Peterson said. “But when you have that many playmakers, you have to put them in the game.”

And while Peterson doesn’t hide his eagerness to make his Saints debut in Minnesota, he said he still very much appreciates his time there, expects to one day be in their ring of honor and is even looking forward to receiving in his Minneapolis hotel room some chocolate chip cookies a particular fan who has long baked for the Vikings, and who said she would leave some for him this year as well.

Peterson added that as long as the Saints win, he doesn’t really care how they do it, adding that he doesn’t want to his highly hyped return to Minnesota to be a distraction for his team.

For their part, his teammates don’t seem to mind.

“No matter how much you want to play that down, he’s one of, if not the greatest player in that organization’s history and they made a decision to let him go and we were fortunate enough to grab him,” right tackle Zach Strief said. “I don’t know that there’s grudges held, but I think it would be inhuman not to have a desire to play well against your former team. … We’re excited to get to go out and play with him.”

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Dak Prescott stared blankly at a reporter who asked how many times the new face of the Dallas franchise had heard the term “sophomore slump” in recent months after one of the best rookie seasons for a quarterback in NFL history.

“Say again?” the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year said.

The reporter repeated the question.

“What’s that?” Prescott shot back.

Without using any words, the sudden star of America’s Team suggested there’s plenty he thinks he can do for an encore starting Sunday night against the New York Giants after leading the Cowboys to the best record in the NFC.

And since Prescott likes to talk about winning, that’s probably the best place to start since the Cowboys followed their franchise-record 11-game winning streak and 13-3 season with a divisional playoff loss at home to Green Bay last January.

“All I’ve ever known is hard work, and hard work pays off,” said Prescott, who tied the rookie QB record of 13 wins set by Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger in 2004.

“That’s what I did in this offseason as I’ve done every offseason in my career.”

He also signed endorsements, attended packed youth football camps bearing his name and celebrated from the second row when his alma mater, Mississippi State, ended UConn’s record 111-game winning streak at the women’s Final Four in Dallas.

While recognizing his rapid rise to fame, Prescott never missed a chance to explain why it was happening. That also meant reminding everyone that the winning and the touchdowns and the triple-digit passer rating had to continue as well.

“Everything,” offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said when asked what Prescott needed to do to improve on his remarkable debut.

“I’m being honest. He’s also very honest with himself. He works on his fundamentals and takes the coaching like no one else in my opinion and works on a daily basis to get better.”

Prescott was a fourth-round draft pick and third-string quarterback when backup Kellen Moore broke an ankle in training camp last year. He’d already had two impressive preseason outings when Tony Romo broke a bone in his back in the third exhibition game.

A year later, Prescott appears to be the next 10-year starter after Romo, who retired and went into broadcasting after having to accept during the season that he wasn’t getting his job back.

Sudden change? Depends on who’s talking.

“I feel like by the time Sunday comes last year to this year, it’s the same,” Prescott said. “My coaches do a good job preparing me. Obviously I’m a much better player, much more experienced. So that takes care of itself. But for the most part I’m going to be prepared for the game when Sunday hits.”

The Giants beat Prescott and the Cowboys twice last season, first in what was a solid outing for his debut and then in by far Prescott’s worst game, a 10-7 Dallas loss that ended the 11-game run.

Prescott wasn’t the only record-setting rookie for the Cowboys last season. Ezekiel Elliott led the NFL with 1,631 yards rushing as the fourth overall pick, and both benefited from one of the league’s best offensive lines.

Elliott will play the opener, but his status beyond that is in doubt after the appeal of his six-game suspension over a domestic violence case was denied. If Elliott serves the suspension this season, the first question will be how Prescott functions without him.

“I think one of the best things Dak does is he has a lot of confidence in the guys around him, he communicates really well and puts us all in good position,” 15th-year tight end Jason Witten said. “I just think it’s just trust our system even more.”

Ask Prescott about the notion that opponents now have a year’s worth of video on him, and he’ll respond that he has the same.

Ask him what he wants to accomplish after a dizzying list of impressive numbers last season, and the answer will be almost as short as the one about a sophomore slump. Prescott wants to win.

“You take any player that will put the time in, he’ll improve,” owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. “He’s done an extraordinary amount of work, and his improvement has been dramatic. It wouldn’t be at all wrong to expect a better Dak.”

So don’t even ask about a sophomore slump.

NEW YORK (AP) Mets captain David Wright is still hoping to return to the major leagues even after surgery Tuesday to fix the rotator cuff in his right shoulder, the latest obstacle in the 34-year-old’s lengthy comeback attempt.

Wright was at Citi Field with his right arm in a sling Thursday night while New York hosted the Cincinnati Reds. He expressed optimism about playing next season, although he’s waiting to see how his throwing arm feels following the operation.

”Let’s see how my body responds to the surgery and we’ll kind of go from there,” Wright said. ”I still feel that there’s something that I have to give.”

Wright last played in the majors in May 2016 and had surgery the following month to repair a herniated disc in his neck. He was diagnosed with spinal stenosis in 2015 and appeared in only 75 regular-season games between 2015 and ’16, plus 14 postseason appearances.

The seven-time All-Star spent the majority of this year rehabbing at the club’s spring training complex in Florida, eventually playing in three games for Class A St. Lucie in late August before being shut down with pain in his throwing shoulder.

”I just couldn’t play. I couldn’t throw,” Wright said. ”We tried the rehab. It just didn’t work, so after that comes, `What can we do surgically to fix this?”’

Wright may have needed the surgery even if he wasn’t still eyeing a comeback. He said that without it, he may not have been able to play catch with his kids.

”At some point, I’m going to want to be able to utilize my right arm in a normal way on kind of a daily basis and this, hopefully, corrects all of that,” Wright said.

Wright has three years and $47 million remaining on an eight-year contract with the Mets, but he understands that New York may look elsewhere for an everyday third baseman over the winter. Wright acknowledged he hasn’t ”exactly been able to be counted on these last couple years” and said he would respect the team’s decision to seek a long-term solution at the position.

”From day one this organization, this fan base and this city’s really taken great care of me,” he said. ”And if it’s time for them to make a personnel decision or a position change or whatever the case may be, they’ve been so good to me that I want to do whatever’s best for them.”

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — No. 10 Florida State canceled its home game Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe because of impending Hurricane Irma.

The cancellation Thursday night came after Florida Gov. Rick Scott ordered all state colleges and universities closed through Monday in order to support shelter and emergency relief efforts.

The teams do not have open dates on the same week, preventing them from rescheduling the game.

Officials on Wednesday initially moved the start time from 7:30 p.m. to noon.

CINCINNATI (AP) The Bengals signed linebacker Vontaze Burfict to a three-year contract extension Thursday as he began his latest NFL suspension for egregious conduct on the field.

Burfict’s contract was up at the end of this season. The new deal runs through the 2020 season.

Burfict is the Bengals’ top defensive player. He’s also been its most suspended player over the last two seasons, twice punished by the NFL for his on-field conduct. His hit to Antonio Brown’s head helped the Steelers rally for an 18-16 playoff win during the 2015 season and drew a three-game suspension to start last season.

His latest suspension came for leveling Kansas City Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman during the second preseason game. The league cited his history of egregious hits in handing out the current penalty, which was reduced from five games to three on appeal.

Burfict had a history of personal fouls at Arizona State that factored into every NFL team passing on him in the 2012 draft. The Bengals signed him as a free agent and have steadfastly supported him despite his troubles. He’s been a key playmaker on coach Marvin Lewis’ defense with 582 tackles, seven sacks, five interceptions, three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in his first five seasons.

He also has been one of the league’s most-frequently fined – eight times – players and been suspended twice for questionable hits. The Bengals announced the extension after the media availability ended on Thursday. Lewis said in a statement that Burfict ”is still one of the young, emerging talents within the league.”

”It was important to reach an extension before the start of the season, and we look forward to having Vontaze back with the team in a few weeks,” Lewis said.

Cornerback Adam ”Pacman” Jones also is suspended by the NFL for Cincinnati’s home opener on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium. Jones was convicted of a misdemeanor in the offseason related to an altercation at a downtown hotel. Jones also was part of Cincinnati’s meltdown in the 2015 playoff game against the Steelers, drawing a 15-yard personal foul penalty that helped set up the winning field goal.

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For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

A look at what’s happening all around the major Friday:

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STREAKING SNAKES

The Diamondbacks can stretch their club-record winning streak to 14 games when they open a series against the Padres. The run includes six victories over the NL West-leading Dodgers, and Arizona even led for 97 consecutive innings – the second longest span in the majors since 1900 – before the Dodgers scored first on Wednesday night. Patrick Corbin (13-11, 3.83 ERA) has a pair of victories during this streak, and he’ll seek another against San Diego’s Jordan Lyles (0-2, 6.71).

TO THE MAX

Max Scherzer hasn’t lost a start since June 21, and he’ll go for another victory when the Nationals host the Phillies. Scherzer (13-5, 2.19) is 5-0 with a 2.37 ERA in his past 11 starts, including five effective innings versus Milwaukee last time out before exiting with a bruised calf after being struck by a line drive.

FEELING FINE?

Chris Archer (9-8, 3.76) is set to return after throwing just eight pitches in his previous outing before exiting with forearm tightness. The Rays right-hander gets a tough draw in the Red Sox and left-hander Drew Pomeranz (14-5, 3.36), who lost last time out against the Yankees to end a 14-start unbeaten stretch.

COME ON IN

The Braves are offering free tickets to fans from Florida, Georgia and South Carolina displaced by Hurricane Irma. During a four-game series against the Marlins which began Thursday night, the Braves will give a complimentary ticket to anyone showing a valid Florida ID. The offer also is open to residents of Georgia and South Carolina counties under mandatory evacuation orders. Braves president of business Derek Schiller says he hopes the offer ”can help take their mind off the storm for a few hours.”

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers open a must-win series Friday with their pitcher most likely to win on the mound.

Left-hander Martin Perez (11-10, 4.87 ERA) has been one of the keys to the Rangers’ resurgence in the wild-card playoff picture. Perez has matched a career high by winning his past six starts heading into his outing against the New York Yankees.

The Rangers will need Perez and the rest of the Rangers to be at full strength. The Friday game starts a huge homestretch for Texas that includes series against the Yankees, the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Angels, all teams that are fighting for the two American League wild-card berths.

Texas manager Jeff Banister has no doubt his team club be ready to get the homestand started on a big note.

“Our guys continue to stay engaged, continue to battle,” said Banister, whose team comes into the series following a Thursday off day after splitting a doubleheader in Atlanta on Wednesday. “It’s a challenge. I feel like our guys are playing well. We’ll get ready for New York on Friday.”

Perez hasn’t backed into any wins during his current hot streak. He has a 3.15 ERA in that span, which has allowed him to drop his overall ERA by more than half a run. He already has set a career high for wins.

Perez will have to buck a limited history against the Yankees to become the first Texas pitcher to win seven straight starts since Kenny Rogers in 2005. Perez has faced the Yankees twice, going 1-1 with a whopping 12.86 ERA. In his last start against New York in 2015, he retired only three batters.

The Yankees counter with right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (11-10, 4.54 ERA). Like Perez, Tanaka is on a roll. He has won three consecutive starts, pitching seven innings in each and allowing a total of five runs. One of his best starts this year came against Texas on June 23, when he struck out nine over eight scoreless innings in a no-decision.

In three career starts against Texas, Tanaka is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA.

Tanaka will have a lineup behind him that is at full strength. The Yankees are coming off a series win against Baltimore after losing 11 straight series to the Orioles at Camden Yards. New York will have catcher Gary Sanchez back in the lineup, too, as he is returning from a three-game suspension for his part in a brawl at Detroit on Aug. 24.

“We’ve been playing our ballgame,” Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge told Newsday after New York’s 9-1 victory over Baltimore on Thursday. “Just kind of passing the baton, getting those clutch hits with runners on.”

That approach has worked recently as New York has scored 22 runs in its last three games.

Judge hit his 39th home run of the season Thursday, tying him with Oakland’s Khris Davis for the American League lead. It was Judge’s second home run in four games after he went 15 contests without one.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) Devlin Hodges threw for 317 yards and three touchdowns, Kelvin McKnight had 136 yards receiving and two scores, and Samford held off Division II West Alabama 49-41 on Thursday night.

Samford (2-0) had a 28-point lead midway through the third quarter, but West Alabama (1-1) scored 21 straight points to pull to 42-35 with 8:11 remaining.

Samford’s Darius Harvey intercepted Harry Satterwhite’s hurried pass and returned it 23 yards for a score to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to 49-35. West Alabama answered to make it 49-41 with 2:08 remaining and elected to kick it into the end zone. After six Samford plays, the Tigers got the ball back at their 6 with seven seconds left but Satterwhite’s heave to Donta Armstrong didn’t go past midfield as time expired.

Armstrong scored on a 57-yard punt return in the first half and he had 54- and 62-yard touchdowns receptions in the third quarter. At the start of the fourth, Armstrong found Barnard McGhee on a wide-receiver pass for a 63-yard TD.

Armstrong finished with 316 all-purpose yards and four scores, and Satterwhite threw for 401 yards for the Tigers.

Samford built a 14-0 lead in the first six minutes. Defensive back Omari Williams returned an interception 63 yards on West Alabama’s first offensive possession. On Samford’s next offensive play, Hodges connected with Andrew Harris for a 57-yard score.

HOUSTON (AP) Texas A&M and law enforcement officials are investigating after football coach Kevin Sumlin received a racist and threatening letter at his home Thursday.

His wife, Charlene Sumlin, posted a picture of the letter, which had a return address in Houston, on Twitter on Thursday night. The handwritten letter read: ”You suck as a coach! You’re a (racial epithet) and can’t win! Please get lost! Or else.”

On the post Charlene added in part: ”how is any part of this OK?”

Later on Thursday night Texas A&M President Michael Young and athletic director Scott Woodward issued a joint statement condemning the letter and adding that they are: ”working with law enforcement authorities to bring the sender of this letter to justice.”

The statement also said: ”There is no excuse for hatred and, as a community. We will not allow the ignorance of some to intimidate any member of our community.”

On Saturday night in Los Angeles, Texas A&M squandered a 34-point third-quarter lead in a season-opening loss to UCLA. The Aggies will host Nicholls State on Saturday night.

The 53-year-old Sumlin has three years and $15 million left on his contract that runs through the 2019 season.

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More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and https://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Twins’ Jorge Polanco drove in the go-ahead runs off ailing Kansas City closer Kelvin Herrera with two outs in the ninth inning, and Minnesota rallied to beat the Royals 4-2 on Thursday night.

Herrera, who has been dealing with a mild forearm strain, inherited a 2-1 lead before giving up a pair of singles and a walk. Brian Dozier hit a tying sacrifice fly, and after Joe Mauer was walked intentionally, Polanco lined a single up the middle for the lead.

Trevor Hildenberger (3-2) earned the win with a scoreless eighth in relief of Twins starter Kyle Gibson, while Matt Belisle handled a perfect ninth to pick up his sixth save.

Sam Houston State (2-0) had its 30-17 halftime lead trimmed to six points after Dawonya Tucker’s 19-yard rush with 5:59 left in the third quarter. But Jaylen Harris returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a 13-point Sam Houston lead.

Nathan Stewart’s 7-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth extended the Bearkats’ lead to 44-24. But Tre Honshtein ran the kickoff back 65 yards, setting up Tucker’s 15-yard scoring run.

Prairie View recovered the ensuing onside kick with 10:37 remaining but, six plays later, Neiko Hollins fumbled it on a sneak and the Panthers also fumbled it on their final drive.

Stewart had 118 yards receiving with one score, and Davion Davis added 99 yards and two touchdowns for Sam Houston State.

Lavell McCullers, a junior-college transfer, made his debut for Prairie View (0-1). He threw for 165 yards, and rushed 15 times for 124 yards and a score. Tucker had 13 carries for 94 yards and three TDs.

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More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25

A quick look at the U.S. Open :

LOOKAHEAD TO FRIDAY

Rafael Nadal vs. Juan Martin del Potro might feel as if it’s a Grand Slam semifinal worthy of a final. Each has won the U.S. Open already – Nadal in 2010 and 2013; del Potro in 2009, when he beat Nadal in the semifinals, then Roger Federer in the final. That, though, was the big-hitting Argentine’s only major championship. Nadal, meanwhile, ranks second in men’s tennis history with 15 Grand Slam trophies. Nadal leads their head-to-head series 8-5, but del Potro won their most recent matchup, on a hard court at the Rio Olympics last year. The other semifinal involves two newcomers: 12th-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain vs. 28th-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa. Neither has played in a major semi, let alone a title match. Carreno Busta has not lost a set in the tournament so far, while Anderson boasts a dangerous serve and has only been broken three times in 87 service games.

15 – Number of years since the last all-American women’s final at the U.S. Open. Two U.S. players, Stephens and Keys, meet for the title Saturday.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

”I just don’t want anyone to ever ask me about the `state of American tennis’ ever again.” – Stephens.

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More AP tennis coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-Tennis

CHICAGO (AP) — The Cleveland Indians set a franchise record with their 15th consecutive win Thursday night, beating the Chicago White Sox 11-2 behind another terrific outing for Corey Kluber.

Cleveland also belted five homers while becoming the first major league team with a 15-game winning streak since Oakland won 20 in a row in 2002. Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run drive in the first, Francisco Lindor connected in the second, Erik Gonzalez went deep twice and Greg Allen hit his first major league homer in the seventh.

Kluber (15-4) struck out 13 in seven innings. Yolmer Sanchez and Jose Abreu homered in the first for Chicago, but Kluber allowed only one more hit — a fifth-inning single for Omar Narvaez.

The right-hander retired 20 of his last 22 batters on his way to double-digit strikeouts for the 14th time this season and 38th of his career.

The Indians closed out an 11-0 road trip and begin a 10-game homestand Friday night against Baltimore. The reigning American League champions have outscored their opponents 109-28 during the win streak.

The Indians surpassed the 14-game winning streak they recorded last season. They are the first team to win at least 14 in a row in consecutive seasons since the 1935-36 Chicago Cubs.

PITCHING IN A PINCH

Third-string catcher Rob Brantly pitched the ninth inning for the White Sox. He allowed Gonzalez’s second homer. He was the first White Sox player whose primary position is catcher to pitch in a game, according to STATS LLC.

COUNTER MOVE

Indians manager Terry Francona changed his lineup when the White Sox pitching change was announced, installing the left-handed bats of outfielders Lonnie Chisenhall and Bradley Zimmer in place of Ben Guyer and Allen.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: 3B Yandy Diaz (left elbow contusion) departed after being hit by a pitch in the sixth inning. … LHP Andrew Miller (right knee tendinitis) is expected to throw off the mound before the start of the series against the Orioles. … INF Jose Ramirez (sore wrist) was held out of the lineup. Francona said he might miss one more game, but the injury isn’t serious. … OF Jay Bruce (sore neck) was out of the lineup for the sixth straight game.

White Sox: RHP Jake Petricka (right elbow strain) was placed on the 10-day disabled list. … SS Tim Anderson (illness) was out of the lineup for the second straight game. … OF Willy Garc?a (concussion) was sent on a rehab assignment to Class A Kannapolis.

White Sox: Rookie RHP Lucas Giolito (2-1, 2.25 ERA) and Giants LHP Matt Moore (4-13, 5.42 ERA) will square off in the opener of a three-game series on Friday in Chicago. Giolito won his past two starts, allowing a total of one run and seven hits in 14 innings. Moore returns to the rotation after making his first relief appearance since 2011 on Sunday. He pitched two scoreless innings.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Twins’ Jorge Polanco drove in the go-ahead runs off ailing Kansas City closer Kelvin Herrera with two outs in the ninth inning, and Minnesota rallied to beat the Royals 4-2 on Thursday night.

Herrera, who has been dealing with a mild forearm strain, inherited a 2-1 lead before giving up a pair of singles and a walk. Brian Dozier hit a tying sacrifice fly, and after Joe Mauer was walked intentionally, Polanco lined a single up the middle for the lead.

Trevor Hildenberger (3-2) earned the win with a scoreless eighth in relief of Twins starter Kyle Gibson, while Matt Belisle handled a perfect ninth to pick up his sixth save.

Herrera (3-3) squandered a solid night from Sam Gaviglio, who was recently claimed off waivers from the Mariners, and the rest of the Kansas City bullpen. Gaviglio allowed only a homer from Robbie Grossman and three other hits in five innings before a trio of relievers got the game to the ninth.

The loss was especially devastating for the roller-coaster Royals given their place in the crowded AL wild-card race. They began the night 2 1/2 games back of the Twins with 24 games to play.

Gaviglio and Gibson matched each other through four scoreless innings before Grossman took a 3-2 pitch from the Royals’ new starter into the bullpen in right field with one out in the fifth.

Alex Gordon singled in Alcides Escobar in the bottom half, and Whit Merrifield’s hard-hit single gave Kansas City a lead that would stand until the ninth.

Max Kepler started the Twins’ go-ahead rally with a single. Then, after Eduardo Escobar struck out, Jason Castro singled and Grossman walked to set up Dozier, whose fly ball to the wall tied the game.

Polanco followed with the eventual game-winning hit.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins 3B Miguel Sano (left shin) did light running but hit off a tee rather than taking batting practice after experiencing soreness. He has been on the DL retroactive to Aug. 20. ”We’ll see if he can get on the field (Friday),” manager Paul Molitor said.

Royals 3B Cheslor Cuthbert was out of the lineup while dealing with a gallbladder issue. … LHP Danny Duffy (left elbow impingement) and RHP Joakim Soria (left oblique strain) threw off the mound. ”Both did OK,” manager Ned Yost said. ”They’re making progress.” … 3B Mike Moustakas was the DH to give his achy right knee a rest. ”He’s playable,” Yost said, ”or he wouldn’t be in there.”

UP NEXT

Royals RHP Ian Kennedy and Twins RHP Ervin Santana meet in a rematch of last Sunday, when neither factored into Kansas City’s 5-4 victory. Kennedy allowed four runs, two earned, in 5 2/3 innings while Santana yielded four runs in 6 2/3 innings.

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Braves LIVE recaps Atlanta’s 5-4 win over Miami

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Twins had seen the scenario that faced them Thursday night play out seemingly countless times over the past few weeks: They rally down the stretch only to come up short in the ninth.

The outcome was far different this time.

Jorge Polanco drove in the go-ahead runs off ailing Kansas City closer Kelvin Herrera with two outs in the ninth, and Minnesota rallied to beat the Royals 4-2 on Thursday night in a game that could have massive implications on the American League wild-card race.

”It was really good to see us get over the hump in one of these games. We’ve been putting pressure on to the last out,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. ”Guys put together some really nice at-bats.”

Herrera, who has been dealing with a mild forearm strain, inherited a 2-1 lead before giving up a pair of singles and a walk. Brian Dozier hit a tying sacrifice fly to the warning track, and after Joe Mauer was walked intentionally, Polanco lined a single up the middle for the lead.

Trevor Hildenberger (3-2) earned the win with a scoreless eighth in relief of Twins starter Kyle Gibson, while Matt Belisle handled a perfect ninth to pick up his sixth save.

”Any time you can go seven innings without striking anybody out, your defense is playing good,” Gibson said. ”And hats off to the offense. That’s why we won the game. The offense didn’t give up.”

Herrera (3-3) squandered a solid night from Sam Gaviglio, who was recently claimed off waivers from the Mariners, and the rest of the Kansas City bullpen. Gaviglio allowed only a homer from Robbie Grossman and three other hits in five innings before a trio of relievers got the game to the ninth.

”We had it lined up the way we wanted it to line up,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

The loss was especially devastating for the roller-coaster Royals given their place in the crowded AL wild-card race. They began the night 2 1/2 games back of the Twins with 24 games to play.

”That’s a tough loss right there in the last inning,” the Royals’ Alcides Escobar said. ”Just come back tomorrow, keep playing hard and win the series.”

Gaviglio and Gibson matched each other through four scoreless innings before Grossman drove a 3-2 pitch from the Royals’ new starter into the bullpen in right field with one out in the fifth.

Alex Gordon singled in Escobar in the bottom half, and Whit Merrifield’s hard-hit single gave Kansas City a lead that would stand until the ninth.

Max Kepler started the Twins’ go-ahead rally with a single. Then, after Eduardo Escobar struck out, Jason Castro singled and Grossman walked to set up Dozier, whose deep fly ball tied the game.

Polanco followed with the eventual game-winning hit.

”It was a pretty big game,” Yost acknowledged. ”It looked like we had everything lined up to win it but we just didn’t win it.”

STATS AND STREAKS

The Twins are 10-6 against the Royals this season. They were 4-15 against them last season. … Herrera has not recorded a save since Aug. 16 at Oakland. … Gibson has a 1.69 ERA in his last four starts. … Mauer reached safely five times for the second time this season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins 3B Miguel Sano (left shin) did light running but hit off a tee rather than taking batting practice after experiencing soreness. He has been on the DL retroactive to Aug. 20. ”We’ll see if he can get on the field (Friday),” Molitor said.

Royals 3B Cheslor Cuthbert was out of the lineup while dealing with a gallbladder issue. … LHP Danny Duffy (left elbow impingement) and RHP Joakim Soria (left oblique strain) threw off the mound. ”Both did OK,” Yost said. ”They’re making progress.” … 3B Mike Moustakas was the DH to give his achy right knee a rest. ”He’s playable,” Yost said, ”or he wouldn’t be in there.”

UP NEXT

Royals RHP Ian Kennedy and Twins RHP Ervin Santana meet in a rematch of last Sunday, when neither factored into Kansas City’s 5-4 victory. Kennedy allowed four runs, two earned, in 5 2/3 innings while Santana yielded four runs in 6 2/3 innings.

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

HOUSTON (AP) James Brown ran for 118 yards and had a 33-yard touchdown with 2:12 remaining to help Houston Baptist hold off crosstown rival Texas Southern 24-17 on Thursday night at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Brown’s score up the middle led to the Huskies’ 17th straight point of the second half. Texas Southern answered with a seven-play, 75-yard drive capped by Darvin Kidsy’s 9-yard touchdown grab with 23 seconds left.

Houston Baptist recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock with one play.

Bailey Zappe threw for 248 yards, and had two total touchdowns for Houston Baptist (1-1). He connected with Ethan Fry for a 60-yard touchdown pass to give the Huskies a 7-3 lead in the first quarter, and Zappe scored on a short run in the third for a 14-10 lead. Fry made three catches for 88 yards.

Jay Christophe passed for one touchdown and ran for another score for Texas Southern (0-2).

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COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) Major League Baseball has donated $10 million to the Baseball Hall of Fame’s endowment.

All 30 teams contributed to the Hall of Fame’s effort to raise money toward its goal of $30 million. The Hall has now raised $22 million.

Since it opened in 1939, the Hall of Fame has operated on a break-even basis without a significant endowment. It now has 40,000 artifacts, including bats, balls, gloves, uniforms, trophies, 135,000 baseball cards, 14,000 hours of recorded media, 250,000 historic photos and 3 million pieces in its library.

The goal is to make sure the collection is preserved for the future. The endowment also will help the Hall develop more world-class exhibits, take advantage of technology to increase access to its collections and extend the reach of its education programs.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — There were big plays all over the field. The Chiefs, not the Patriots, were making them.

Alex Smith threw two long touchdown passes and rookie Kareem Hunt, after fumbling on his first NFL carry, scored three times to help Kansas City stun New England 42-27 on Thursday night in the season opener.

Coming off their sensational Super Bowl rally to a fifth Lombardi Trophy, the Patriots faded badly in the second half. A raucous sold-out crowd of 65,878 celebrated the unveiling of yet another championship banner, and there was plenty of talk about Tom Brady leading them to a 19-0 record.

After Week 1, though, they are winless.

It was the first time the Patriots lost at Gillette Stadium when leading at halftime, a span of 82 games. They were no match for the Chiefs in the last two periods.

Tyreek Hill scored on a 75-yarder and Hunt put the Chiefs in front with a 78-yarder to punctuate Kansas City’s charge after trailing 17-14 at halftime. Hunt also had a 58-yard scamper and finished with 141 yards rushing and 98 receiving. Hill had 133 yards through the air, and Smith went 28 for 35 for 368 yards and four touchdowns.

Brady, the 13th quarterback to start an NFL game at age 40, didn’t look too spry. He struggled mightily in the second half and didn’t throw for a touchdown, finishing 16 for 36 for 267 yards.

Patriots newcomer Mike Gillislee scored on three short runs, becoming the first player since Terrell Owens of Philadelphia in 2004 to score three touchdowns in his debut with a new team.

And Kansas City aided the Patriots’ cause with 15 penalties for 139 yards. Yet, in the end, the Chiefs looked like world-beaters.

SHORT YARDAGE

New England failed twice in the first quarter on short-yardage runs, by Gillislee and Super Bowl hero James White, and again in the fourth period, by Gillislee. If anyone proclaimed the Patriots were missing RB LeGarrette Blount, who scored 18 TDs last season and was a beast in such situations, well, Gillislee, who came from Buffalo as a restricted free agent, ran in for a pair of 2-yard touchdowns and a 1-yarder.

ROGER, ROGER

Not only did the crowd revel in the video highlights from the Super Bowl, the fans booed vigorously when Commissioner Roger Goodell was shown talking on the sideline Chiefs owner Clark Hunt during warmups. A website distributed thousands of towels featuring Goodell’s face adorned with a clown nose, and many fans also had T-shirts with the caricature. Goodell watched the game from a suite, but not with Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

INJURIES

Kansas City’s star safety Eric Berry was carted off with 4:56 remaining with an undisclosed injury.

The Patriots lost perhaps their best defensive player, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, in the third quarter with a knee injury. His absence showed on Hunt’s long TD reception. … WR Danny Amendola left in the fourth quarter with a head injury. He’s projected as New England’s slot receiver with Julian Edelman out for the season.

UP NEXT

Chiefs: Host Philadelphia on Sept. 17.

Patriots: Visit New Orleans on Sept. 17.

NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Brandon Nimmo homered twice, Juan Lagares added a solo shot and the New York Mets beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-2 on Thursday night.

New York has won three of four and ended the Reds’ three-game winning streak to open a four-game series.

Hitting in the cleanup spot, Nimmo ripped an opposite-field drive off reliever Tim Adleman in the fifth inning that touched just above the orange line on the left-field wall for a home run.

Lagares followed with a liner that traveled a bit farther into the seats, giving the Mets a 5-2 lead on their 201st homer of the year — the second highest total in club history (218 in 2016).

The next inning, Nimmo hit Alejandro Chacin’s 2-2 offering out to center field to extend New York’s advantage to 7-2.

Nimmo led off the second inning with a double that careened off Scott Schebler’s glove in the right-field corner, advancing to third on a groundout and scoring on Dominic Smith’s RBI single.

Matt Harvey was ineffective early but regrouped for the win, allowing two runs and five hits in five innings.

Harvey (5-4) remained undefeated against Cincinnati, improving to 4-0 with a 2.63 ERA in six starts.

Tyler Mahle (0-2) struggled in his third major league start, giving up three runs, six hits and four walks in four innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: CF Billy Hamilton (broken left thumb) was placed on the 10-day disabled list. The major league stolen bases leader was hurt attempting to bunt in the first inning of Wednesday’s game against Milwaukee.

Mets: INF Wilmer Flores (broken nose) was re-examined Thursday and shut down for the season. … INF/OF T.J. Rivera (partial tear in right elbow) will have Tommy John surgery next week. … RHP Noah Syndergaard (torn right lat) made a rehab start with Class A Brooklyn on Thursday, allowing three runs and three hits in two innings. He threw 36 pitches, 25 for strikes. … SS Amed Rosario (bruised right index finger) missed his fourth straight game. … 3B David Wright will begin range of motion exercises shortly after having surgery on his right rotator cuff on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Reds: LHP Amir Garrett (3-6, 7.41 ERA) will start Friday night in place of RHP Sal Romano, who was pushed back to Sunday because of a cut on his right index finger. Garrett played college basketball at nearby St. John’s.

Mets: RHP Seth Lugo (5-4, 5.00 ERA) tries to win for the first time since July 25.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Dexter Fowler struck out against Brad Hand with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, capping the San Diego Padres’ 3-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night.

Hand allowed singles by Stephen Piscotty, Randal Grichuk and Carson Kelly to load the bases in the ninth inning before getting Fowler to whiff on a slider in the dirt. Hand got his 16th save.

Jose Pirela had a run-scoring infield single in the first inning, and that was all the cushion Clayton Richard (7-13) and relievers Craig Stammen, Kirby Yates and Hand needed. Richard got 11 groundball outs while allowing five hits and striking out five in six innings.

Wil Myers added his 25th homer of the season, a two-run shot in the seventh.

After Stammen struck out two in the seventh, Greg Garcia and pinch-hitter Breyvic Valera singled, with Valera’s being his first in the majors. Manuel Margot then made a running catch on pinch-hitter Tommy Pham’s sinking line drive in center.

Lance Lynn (10-7) tiptoed around trouble in the first, allowing a run on three infield hits, an error by Alex Mejia and a walk. Pirela’s slow roller to third scored Margot after he opened the inning with a hit.

Lynn lasted through the sixth, giving up six hits and three walks, with three strikeouts on 118 pitches.

It was the second straight start the Cardinals failed to support Lynn. He pitched eight scoreless innings for the first time in three years but didn’t prevail against the San Francisco Giants last week.

The Cardinals got a rare runner in scoring position when Paul DeJong doubled in the first. He didn’t advance, though, and Richard induced double plays in the second and fourth innings. That gave Richard 27 groundball double plays, tying teammate Luis Perdomo for the most in the NL.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: 2B Kolten Wong (sore back) is expected to return this weekend. … 3B Matt Carpenter (right shoulder strain) should be back in the lineup Friday.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Luke Weaver (4-1, 2.50) faces the Pirates as St. Louis kicks off a six-game homestand. Weaver is one of five rookies to have double-digit strikeout games this season. His 90 strikeouts through his first 17 career games are the most ever by a Cardinal.

Padres: RHP Jordan Lyles (0-2, 6.71) is making his second start of the season and his first on the road. He tossed a season-high 4 1/3 innings in his Padres debut last week, getting a no-decision after allowing two runs on six hits to the Dodgers.

SAN DIEGO (AP) Dexter Fowler struck out against Brad Hand with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, capping the San Diego Padres’ 3-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night.

Hand allowed singles by Stephen Piscotty, Randal Grichuk and Carson Kelly to load the bases in the ninth inning before getting Fowler to whiff on a slider in the dirt. Hand got his 16th save.

Jose Pirela had a run-scoring infield single in the first inning, and that was all the cushion Clayton Richard (7-13) and relievers Craig Stammen, Kirby Yates and Hand needed. Richard got 11 groundball outs while allowing five hits and striking out five in six innings.

Wil Myers added his 25th homer of the season, a two-run shot in the seventh.

After Stammen struck out two in the seventh, Greg Garcia and pinch-hitter Breyvic Valera singled, with Valera’s being his first in the majors. Manuel Margot then made a running catch on pinch-hitter Tommy Pham’s sinking line drive in center.

Lance Lynn (10-7) tiptoed around trouble in the first, allowing a run on three infield hits, an error by Alex Mejia and a walk. Pirela’s slow roller to third scored Margot after he opened the inning with a hit.

Lynn lasted through the sixth, giving up six hits and three walks, with three strikeouts on 118 pitches.

It was the second straight start the Cardinals failed to support Lynn. He pitched eight scoreless innings for the first time in three years but didn’t prevail against the San Francisco Giants last week.

The Cardinals got a rare runner in scoring position when Paul DeJong doubled in the first. He didn’t advance, though, and Richard induced double plays in the second and fourth innings. That gave Richard 27 groundball double plays, tying teammate Luis Perdomo for the most in the NL.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: 2B Kolten Wong (sore back) is expected to return this weekend. … 3B Matt Carpenter (right shoulder strain) should be back in the lineup Friday.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Luke Weaver (4-1, 2.50) faces the Pirates as St. Louis kicks off a six-game homestand. Weaver is one of five rookies to have double-digit strikeout games this season. His 90 strikeouts through his first 17 career games are the most ever by a Cardinal.

Padres: RHP Jordan Lyles (0-2, 6.71) is making his second start of the season and his first on the road. He tossed a season-high 4 1/3 innings in his Padres debut last week, getting a no-decision after allowing two runs on six hits to the Dodgers.

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

It’s Week 1 of the 2017 CIF-SS football season … it’s time for another batch of Flashback Friday pics!

We dug deep in an effort to embarrass (not really but yes, really!) the high school football stars of today with pictures from their youth.

Next up: St. John Bosco and Chaminade. Enjoy!

What a juicy matchup to help kick off the NFL’s opening week. The two best teams in the NFC, Green Bay and Seattle – sorry Atlanta, but that Super Bowl meltdown remains too strong in our minds – face off at Lambeau Field.

Unlike the AFC, where New England appears a hefty favorite, the NFC seems wide open. While clarity for a season that lasts 17 weeks isn’t going to come in Week 1 – sometimes it doesn’t come until December – it’s fair to label the Packers and Seahawks as prime contenders.

Seattle’s defense could be the league’s best. Aaron Rodgers has plenty of targets on offense. Yep, a classic matchup in Week 1.

”This will fit together real well,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll says of his defense. ”We should be good up front against the running game, which is always crucial to us. Then we will see how well we can build up our pass rush. I like the mix that we have.”

That D will mix it up with what will be a well-balanced offense if Ty Montgomery fully makes the adjustment from receiver to starting running back.

Could this be a preview of a January NFC game?

”Well, every game could be looked at in that way, but yeah I think our two teams know,” Rodgers says. ”When you start the season, training camp, I’m sure 32 teams are talking about winning the Super Bowl.

”It’s not really the case, so there’s not that many teams that have those squads that could do it. Us and Seattle are usually in the mix. They have been and we have been for a long time. You know it’s going to be two teams that expect to be there in the end.”

The season got going Thursday night when Kansas City stunned New England 42-27 in the season opener.

Alex Smith threw two long touchdown passes and rookie Kareem Hunt, after fumbling on his first NFL carry, scored three times for the visiting Chiefs.

Coming off their sensational Super Bowl rally to a fifth Lombardi Trophy, the Patriots faded badly in the second half.

Hunt finished with 141 yards rushing and 98 receiving, and Smith went 28 for 35 for 368 yards and four touchdowns. Tom Brady, the 13th quarterback to start an NFL game at age 40, struggled mightily in the second half and didn’t throw for a touchdown, finishing 16 for 36 for 267 yards.

Also, the opener between the Buccaneers and Dolphins that was scheduled for Sunday was postponed by the NFL until Nov. 19 because of Hurricane Irma.

Atlanta at Chicago

Nowhere in a medical dictionary will you find the term ”Super Bowl malaise.” No matter: it exists.

Will the Falcons fall victim to it? They insist not, having gotten rid of all the angst and disappointment from that collapse well before they gathered for training camp.

An offense that can beat up on anyone, particularly with running back Devonta Freeman ready to go, makes Atlanta dangerous. A defense that was somewhat suspect before it fell apart against the Patriots adds plenty of mystery to the Falcons’ chances.

Oh, and you also won’t find ”Lake Michigan malaise” in that dictionary. But the Bears are in the midst of it.

New Orleans at Minnesota, Monday night

The prime-time spotlight will shine on Adrian Peterson’s return to Minneapolis. He’s not even the top RB in the Big Easy, with Mark Ingram holding that role. But Peterson will be the focal point against a Minnesota defense that needs more consistency.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer got testy when asked about Peterson.

”I’m just going to talk about my players,” Zimmer said. When asked if Peterson will have a chip on his shoulder, Zimmer responded: ”I hope we have a chip on our shoulder. This game isn’t about Adrian Peterson. It’s about the Vikings and the Saints. They’ve got a lot of great offensive weapons and he’s a great player, but this game isn’t about Adrian Peterson.”

New York Giants at Dallas

Much of this game – well, the buildup to it – has been about Ezekiel Elliott. With his six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s conduct policy upheld by arbitrator Harold Henderson, he nonetheless is eligible to play Sunday night.

The Giants tend to play well at Dallas, going 5-3 in AT&T Stadium, and they have the defense to slow down the Cowboys’ Elliott, Dak Prescott, Jason Witten and Dez Bryant. But will wideout Odell Beckham Jr. be recovered enough from his ankle injury to catch passes from Eli Manning?

Oakland at Tennessee

Lots of folks point to the Titans as a team to watch, and with Derek Carr healthy, we know the Raiders are a contender. So this sets up as the best opening matchup in the AFC.

Even though it has 2016 Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack , Oakland must display a stingier defense, especially against the run. Tennessee, which also has uncertainty on defense, can pound the ball with DeMarco Murray and Derek Henry.

Los Angeles Chargers at Denver, Monday night

If the Broncos can release safety T.J. Ward, they must feel very secure in what they have on D. Having Von Miller, Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr., Bradley Roby and Brandon Marshall can give a team that security. Much depends on what Trevor Siemian can deliver in the passing game.

The Chargers moved up from San Diego with two mainstays, Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates, and developing youngsters Melvin Gordon at running back and Joey Bosa at defensive end. But they still are likely to be a last-place team in the tough AFC West.

Baltimore at Cincinnati

The glory days are well behind the Ravens now, and they haven’t seen the postseason since 2014 after a great run under John Harbaugh. Defense and special teams will be their calling card again.

Marvin Lewis has the second-longest tenure among NFL head coaches at 14 seasons and counting. He also has the ignominious distinction of an 0-7 playoff mark, which is unprecedented. He might need a playoff berth AND a win or two to stay put.

Pittsburgh at Cleveland

One of the NFL’s best (if recently lopsided) rivalries is renewed on opening weekend. The Steelers seem primed for a run toward a seventh Lombardi Trophy, though there should be at least some concern that star RB Le’Veon Bell only reported this week. Pittsburgh has the NFL’s most dynamic offense, and its defense looks improved.

Make no mistake, the Browns are improved over the squad that went 1-15. Another such debacle is very unlikely, and an upset here would silence any mistake-by-the-lake talk for a while.

Arizona at Detroit

Now that Matthew Stafford has become the league’s highest-paid player, it’s time for Detroit to use his ample skills to do more than lose in wild-card playoff games. A victory over the revitalized Cardinals would stamp the Lions as legitimate – at least in early September.

The Cardinals need a fast start after flopping early in 2016 and not being able to rally back to get a postseason berth. This roster is not that much different from the one that made the NFC title game for 2015.

Philadelphia at Washington

While Kirk Cousins makes mammoth bucks under the franchise tag and wonders where his Stafford-like long-term deal is, the Redskins must show they have upgraded their defense. It could be tested by the Eagles’ upgraded receiving corps, particularly Alshon Jeffery.

There appears to be some separation in the NFC East, with Dallas and New York at the top, then these clubs. So a win even this early could be a key for Washington or Philly.

Jacksonville at Houston

After what the Houston area has been through because of Hurricane Harvey, a victory would provide some happiness. To get it, the defense that just might rival Seattle’s will need to be dominant. Having J.J. Watt, noted defensive end and philanthropist, back on the field is huge.

Jacksonville will bring a tough-guy mentality to the field under coach Doug Marrone and overall boss Tom Coughlin. What the Jaguars probably don’t bring is enough talent to move up much in the standings.

Carolina at San Francisco

That malaise referred to with the Falcons hit the Panthers hard last year. So did injuries. If Cam Newton can return to anything close to his MVP form and the defense is stout, especially the secondary that leaked in 2016, Carolina will be a factor in the NFC South.

While San Francisco won’t push the top two in the NFC West, new coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch have brought an aggressive approach that, in time, should pay off.

Indianapolis at Los Angeles Rams

The Luckless Colts – Andrew Luck’s shoulder has not healed enough for him to play – do have some luck. After all, they open against the Rams, who are missing their best player, holdout DT Aaron Donald.

A tough game to get excited about, although Indy has Frank Gore to run the ball and L.A. has Todd Gurley.

New York Jets at Buffalo

An impossible game to get excited about. Buffalo hasn’t made the playoffs since the turn of the century. New York’s offseason moves might set football in Florham Park back a century.

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Lance Lynn allowed one run in the first inning after multiple runners got on base with infield hits.

Even though the Cardinals couldn't cap a sweep of the Padres on Thursday, Mike Matheny was still pleased with his club's overall road trip.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) There were big plays all over the field. The Chiefs, not the Patriots, were making them.

Rookie Kareem Hunt, after fumbling on his first NFL carry, scored three times and set an NFL mark to help Kansas City stun New England 42-27 on Thursday night in the season opener. Hunt’s 239 yards in his pro debut were a record since the 1970 merger.

Alex Smith threw two long touchdown passes and became the first quarterback with 300-plus yards, four TDs and no interceptions against coach Bill Belichick. The 42 points were the most the Patriots have allowed in Belichick’s 17-plus seasons.

Coming off their sensational Super Bowl rally to a fifth Lombardi Trophy, the Patriots faded badly in the second half. A raucous sold-out crowd of 65,878 celebrated the unveiling of yet another championship banner, and there was plenty of talk about Tom Brady leading them to a 19-0 record.

After Week 1, though, they are winless.

”I just think we need to have more urgency and go out there and perform a lot better,” Brady said ”It’s a winning attitude, a championship attitude you have to bring every day. We had it handed to us on our own field.”

It was the first time the Patriots lost at Gillette Stadium when leading at halftime, a span of 82 games. They were no match for the Chiefs in the last two periods.

Tyreek Hill scored on a 75-yarder and Hunt put the Chiefs in front with a 78-yarder to punctuate Kansas City’s charge after trailing 17-14 at halftime. Hunt also had a 58-yard scamper and finished with 141 yards rushing and 98 receiving. Hill had 133 yards through the air, and Smith went 28 for 35 for 368 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Brady, the 13th quarterback to start an NFL game at age 40, didn’t look too spry. He struggled mightily in the second half and didn’t throw for a touchdown, finishing 16 for 36 for 267 yards.

”Just a very poor effort and we’ll have to do a lot better,” Brady said. ”Didn’t make a lot of plays tonight, actually.”

Patriots newcomer Mike Gillislee scored on three short runs, becoming the first player since Terrell Owens of Philadelphia in 2004 to score three touchdowns in his debut with a new team.

And Kansas City aided the Patriots’ cause with 15 penalties for 139 yards. Yet, in the end, the Chiefs looked like world-beaters.

At the beginning, it seemed like an extension of February’s Super Bowl. Riled up, Brady and the Patriots tore through the opposing defense as if it belonged to, well, the Falcons, scoring in nine plays, with Gillislee surging in from the 2.

One play later, they were at it again as Hunt fumbled. The Patriots took over at the Kansas City 32 and appeared to go up 14-0 on Rob Gronkowski’s diving catch. Then a replay review overturned the score, with NFL headquarters – which now makes final decisions on such reviews – determining the ball hit the ground as Gronk came down in the end zone.

Gillislee was stopped on fourth-and-inches at the KC 10 and the Chiefs, looking very much like the host team, marched 90 yards in 12 plays. Hunt made up for his early gaffe by gaining 25 yards on the tying drive, which Smith capped with a sharp 8-yard pass to Demetrius Harris.

The teams traded long touchdown drives, New England going 82 yards to Gillislee’s second TD, the Chiefs covering 92 yards at the end of the half before Hunt ran in with a 3-yard swing pass.

Stephen Gostkowski’s 25-yard field goal was the margin for New England’s halftime edge.

But the crowd’s fervor was silenced with Hill’s long touchdown on which prized free agent addition cornerback Stephon Gilmore was torched. Hunt sped down the middle behind linebacker Kyle Van Noy and DE/LB Cassius Marsh to put Kansas City in front for good.

SHORT YARDAGE

New England failed twice in the first quarter on short-yardage runs, by Gillislee and Super Bowl hero James White, and again in the fourth period, by Gillislee. If anyone proclaimed the Patriots were missing RB LeGarrette Blount, who scored 18 TDs last season and was a beast in such situations, well, Gillislee, who came from Buffalo as a restricted free agent, ran in for a pair of 2-yard touchdowns and a 1-yarder.

ROGER, ROGER

Not only did the crowd revel in the video highlights from the Super Bowl, the fans booed vigorously when Commissioner Roger Goodell was shown talking on the sideline Chiefs owner Clark Hunt during warmups. A website distributed thousands of towels featuring Goodell’s face adorned with a clown nose, and many fans also had T-shirts with the caricature. Goodell watched the game from a suite, but not with Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

INJURIES

Kansas City’s star safety Eric Berry was carted off with 4:56 remaining with an undisclosed injury.

The Patriots lost perhaps their best defensive player, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, in the third quarter with a knee injury. His absence showed on Hunt’s long TD reception. … WR Danny Amendola left in the fourth quarter with a head injury. He’s projected as New England’s slot receiver with Julian Edelman out for the season.

UP NEXT

Chiefs: Host Philadelphia on Sept. 17.

Patriots: Visit New Orleans on Sept. 17.

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Jorge Polanco came through with a two-run single in the top of the ninth to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 4-2 win over the Kansas City Royals.

HUMBLE, Texas (AP) Blake Herrera fidgeted with the crisp, white jersey borrowed from another school before wiping an arm soaked in sweat on football pants that didn’t belong to him.

The senior didn’t care that the No. 22 across his chest wasn’t his and everything he wore was a hodgepodge of items donated from schools wanting to help.

What was important to the bright-eyed 17-year-old was this: His Kingwood High team was back together after flooding from Hurricane Harvey all but destroyed his school and everything in it. And in about 24 hours, he and his teammates would be back under the Friday night lights for a scrimmage that will be among the first of its kind since the storm shut down prep football in the largest city in Texas – a welcome and comforting step forward after scores of games were canceled or postponed in the state that reveres the sport more than any other.

”There was a time when us and our coaching staff thought that we might not play football again,” Herrera said. ”But then when we got the help from (other) schools … it really meant a lot to us and really touched our hearts. Because … it was our life basically and it was sad that it got taken away from us.”

While Herrera and the rest of the Kingwood football team returned to practice this week, things are far from normal in an area where thousands of homes were swamped, many beyond repair. The team is practicing nine miles away from the school and Kingwood students will attend classes at still another school beginning on Monday.

”I equated the inside of Kingwood High school to what you see on the Titanic,” said Troy Kite, the athletic director for the Humble school district. ”You just can’t describe the ruins that were in there. It’s just impossible. It’s like a movie, and yet that movie is now us.”

Kingwood is one of the schools hardest hit, but thousands of young athletes are trying to figure out their next move – not just where they might play but whether they will play at all. The University Interscholastic League, which oversees public school athletics in Texas, created a ”Hurricane Harvey waiver” to allow students displaced by the storm to transfer and immediately be eligible for sports.

”This is really the largest disaster we’ve had to deal with in the state at the UIL level,” deputy director Jamey Harrison said. ”We have dealt with other storms from Katrina where as a storm we were taking on a number of people that were displaced from Louisiana and other states and then Hurricanes Rita and Ike that impacted less schools and impacted them in a very different way than this one did.”

State officials recommended that the more than 2,700 students at Kingwood High simply transfer elsewhere while the school is repaired, Kite said. That would have not only have broken up an entire school, it would have meant none of its teams could play this season.

It was a plan district administrators quickly rejected.

”It really has been a community thing and I think that’s the reason that dissolving the school for a year would be absolutely the worst thing,” Kite said. ”We’re aware it would have been the easiest thing for adults to do. Yet that would have been the worst thing for the kids and the community.”

Instead, they came up with an unusual plan that has Kingwood’s students attending classes at Summer Creek High. The Summer Creek students will go to school from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. each day and the Kingwood students will go from about 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. It also means that football is back, too, and just in time for teens eager for its familiar routines among the chaos.

Herrera didn’t just lose his school in the flooding. His home is gone, too. He’s bunking with a friend while the rest of his family, including his mother who was rescued on a boat by one of his teammates, is living with relatives outside of town.

”I like staying at my friend’s house, but it gets old after a while,” he said. ”I miss my mom. I miss my stepdad. I miss my puppy. I miss a lot.”

The uniforms he and others were wearing at practice this week didn’t match, and many of their helmets bore the name or logo of other schools. Kite was among those who fished equipment out of the fetid waters that engulfed the Kingwood locker room. He hadn’t had much reason to smile as he worked tirelessly to salvage Kingwood’s season.

”As you’re pulling all those wet uniforms out, I can’t begin to describe how nasty it is,” he said. ”And you go: `Dear God, what are we doing?’ And … you want to quit and then you’ll see another coach from another school showing up and going in to help us and you get a second wind and you keep going.”

When Kingwood had its first practice since the storm, he gazed out onto the field, taking in the rainbow of colorful jerseys and all the struggles dissipated for a moment.

”We looked like a bag of Skittles,” he said chuckling.

New uniforms were expected to arrive on Friday, but there are no plans to use them during the evening scrimmage that will be held exactly two weeks after Harvey made landfall in Texas. Everyone liked the mixture of colors from all the schools, a tangible representation of how the community came together to help.

”We are going to scrimmage just like this in our borrowed equipment and let our community see what we’ve been talking about,” coach Barry Campbell said.

While Kingwood needed many helping hands to keep its season going, the players who got through the storm safely didn’t hesitate to pitch in to help their neighbors.

Kingwood linebacker Aaron Finch said he and his father borrowed a boat and spent time after the storm rescuing people from flooded homes. He estimates that they picked up 50-60 people.

”It was heartbreaking,” he said. ”Me and my dad saved a 5-day-old baby and a mom that had a C-section and it was really sad for them to get in the boat.”

Wanting to see how their school looked, Finch, Herrera and another teammate were on a jet ski when they saw a deer struggling to swim in water up to its neck.

”It wouldn’t have lived if we wouldn’t have helped it,” Finch said, fighting back tears. ”He was so tired and so exhausted that he didn’t care what happened … so we did what we could and helped him to safety.”

For now, the thought of being on the field in front of their families, friends and fans was a welcome distraction.

”Friday night lights is an exciting thing in Texas … (and) I think our football team can be a rallying point in the recovery process,” Campbell said. ”People have been working for over a week, working their nails to the bone, their fingers to the bone. They’re sore and they still have a lot of work to do. I think our team can allow a little outlet, a little normalcy, a little release, a little fun.”

It’s already given Herrera a small slice of what his life was like before the storm.

”When you come out here it kind of eases my mind,” he said. ”It feels really good out here.”

The NL West leaders haven’t lost that many since May 2013, when they dropped eight in a row. Their 92-48 record is still baseball’s best, but they continue to founder with the playoffs approaching.

Coming off a three-game sweep by Arizona, the Dodgers were hopeful Kershaw (16-3) could stop the slide like he did last week when he snapped their five-game skid with a 1-0 victory at San Diego.

Instead, he got yanked early.

The Rockies pounded out 16 hits and took full advantage of the Dodgers’ faltering bullpen that surrendered five runs. Fans booed Josh Ravin when he gave up back-to-back bases-loaded walks in the seventh as the Rockies batted around.

Kershaw struggled through his second-shortest outing of the season, allowing four runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out seven, walked three and had a wild pitch.

The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner opened the game by giving up four consecutive hits, including Arenado’s homer that quickly put the Dodgers in a hole.

Kershaw’s woes continued in the second after getting two quick outs. He walked Charlie Blackmon, DJ LeMahieu reached on an error by shortstop Chris Taylor and Kershaw walked Arenado to load the bases. He finally got Mark Reynolds on a swinging strike to end a seven-pitch at-bat and spoil the threat.

Kershaw found trouble again in the third. Gerardo Parra singled leading off and Trevor Story followed with a ground-rule double that Yasiel Puig couldn’t catch in the dirt along the right-field line. Parra scored from third on Jonathan Lucroy’s sacrifice fly, making it 4-0.

Kershaw issued a leadoff walk to Blackmon in the fourth and two batters later manager Dave Roberts removed his ace in his first start at home since July 23. The left-hander went on the disabled list with a back issue after that and didn’t return until last Friday in San Diego.

Kershaw slammed his glove into the dugout wall and yelled before sitting down with his head bowed. He had made 16 straight starts without a loss since May 6, and the Dodgers had won every game.

Now, they’ve been outscored 28-3 and struck out 35 times so far this week.

Colorado’s Jon Gray (7-4) allowed one run and four hits in six innings, struck out three and walked two.

The Rockies increased their lead to 6-1 in the fifth on a passed ball by Yasmani Grandal and Lucroy’s RBI single.

Carlos Gonzalez’ homer highlighted a three-run seventh.

LeMahieu singled in the first, extending his hitting streak to 15 games, second-longest in the majors.

Puig’s RBI double with two outs in the fourth was the Dodgers’ lone run.

Dodgers: 1B Adrian Gonzalez had an epidural for pain relief in his lower back and will be out a couple days. Roberts said Gonzalez has done it before this season and his back responded each time.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP German Marquez (10-6, 4.26 ERA) makes his first career start against Los Angeles. The rookie is 1-4 with a 5.36 ERA in eight starts against NL West teams. He is 4-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 12 road starts, with the Rockies going 6-6 in that span.

Dodgers: RHP Yu Darvish (8-11, 4.09) faces the Rockies for the first time in his career. In his last start, he allowed five runs and eight hits to the Padres in three innings, the shortest outing of his career.

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More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs have played regular-season night games at Wrigley Field for nearly three decades, but there never was one on a Friday.

That will change when the Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers square off in the opener of a critical three-game weekend series on Friday at 7:05 p.m. CDT.

The Brewers (72-68) seek to make up lost ground after a three-game sweep by the last-place Cincinnati Reds this week. Milwaukee, which led the National League Central by 5 1/2 games at the All-Star break, is now in third place, five games behind Chicago (77-63).

Milwaukee is also three games behind the Colorado Rockies in the race for the second NL wild card.

The Brewers and Cubs still have seven head-to-head games to play, including four at Miller Park from Sept. 21-24.

“I don’t think anybody needs to be pressing or stressing out, or trying to do too much, because we do have a significant amount of games left against the Cubs,” Brewers right-hander Jimmy Nelson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this week. “We control our own destiny. If we go out there and play our game, there are a lot of things that can happen.”

Nelson (11-6, 3.59 ERA) makes his 29th start of the season and third against the Cubs on Friday. Chicago counters with right-hander John Lackey (11-10, 4.74).

Nelson recorded a 1-0 victory and 17th quality start Sept. 1 against the Washington Nationals. He threw seven shutout innings, allowing three hits and three walks. He fanned 11, his sixth double-digit strikeout game this season.

Nelson is 1-6 with a 4.08 ERA in 14 career games (12 starts) against the Cubs, but he is 0-0 with a 6.35 ERA vs. Chicago this season.

Lackey is coming off a similarly dominating performance in his most recent start on Sept. 1. He retired the final 16 batters faced and shut out the Atlanta Braves over seven innings while allowing just three hits and no walks in a 2-0 Cubs win.

“He was really good,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “He was making pitches, his velocity stayed up the whole time. Wasn’t really threatened. When he struck out Freddie (Freeman in the first inning), that really told me a lot because you normally don’t see him look (silly) on any pitch, so I thought, ‘Something’s goin’ on here.”

The Cubs are 9-1 in Lackey’s past 10 starts. The right-hander is 6-1 with a 3.83 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break and 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts against the Brewers this season.

Chicago won’t have right-hander Jake Arrieta available for this series or the near future. He is out for up to two weeks with a right hamstring strain.

The Friday game was originally scheduled for a 1:20 p.m. CT start. The Cubs sought to ease restrictions prohibiting Friday night games, and the Chicago City Council granted a one-time waiver.

The Cubs are allowed 43 night games a season. Maddon has said he would like more.

“We just play way too many day games during the week. We just do,” he said month. “Guys need their rest. When you’re constantly going night-day or day-day-day and it’s hot during the summertime, it matters.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) So much for another stab at 19-0.

Seven months after shutting down the Atlanta Falcons late in a dramatic Super Bowl comeback win, the New England Patriots defense couldn’t find the brakes Thursday night, giving up 28 second-half points in a stunning 42-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. It was the most points allowed by New England under coach Bill Belichick, with Kansas City piling up 537 yards on offense.

The Patriots also lost starting linebacker Dont’a Hightower to a knee injury. The defense was already weaker up front following the retirement of veteran linebacker Rob Ninkovich and the departure of defensive end Chris Long in free agency, so Hightower’s absence could be an especially destabilizing blow.

Long strikes proved the biggest problem, including a 75-yard touchdown catch by Tyreek Hill to give Kansas City its first lead early in the third quarter, and a 78-yard touchdown catch by Kareem Hunt in the fourth quarter that put the Chiefs back in front for good.

The secondary blundered throughout. Cornerback Malcolm Butler’s pass interference in the end zone set up Hunt’s 3-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. Stephon Gilmore also badly blew a coverage on Hill’s long touchdown. And with Hightower sidelined, linebacker Kyle Van Noy and defensive end Cassius Marsh allowed Hunt to get behind the defense on his 78-yard romp.

”It was different things on each one,” safety Devin McCourty said. ”I gave up one where I could have definitely played better. But we gotta watch it and see.”

It was a particularly humbling debut for Gilmore, who signed a five-year, $65 million contract as a free agent this offseason. The Patriots hoped he and Butler would make a formidable duo.

Instead, they both looked pedestrian Thursday, with both caught at times seeking help over the top that didn’t come.

”You gotta play with a hungry attitude, and I don’t think we did that as a team,” Gilmore said.

The Patriots offense looked as expected at times, scoring two early touchdowns and taking a 17-7 lead with quick-strike drives and Brady spreading the ball around the field.

Other times they were stagnant, including getting stopped twice on fourth-down runs.

But tight end Rob Gronkowski said the shortcomings were hardly just a defensive problem. He said everything about the loss was ”a wakeup call.”

They were left with nothing to do but look forward to their Week 2 trip to New Orleans.

”When they score 42 points and beat you on opening night, there aren’t really any positives,” safety Duron Harmon said.

RARE COMPANY: Since Belichick’s first season in New England in 2000, only two quarterbacks have passed for at least 300 yards and four touchdowns without an interception: Drew Brees in 2009, and now Alex Smith, who passed for 368 yards and four scores.

SUPER BOWL TURNAROUND? The last three times the Patriots lost their opener they went on the win the Super Bowl. They bounced back to win the championship in 2001, 2003, 2014.

BERRY OUT: Chiefs safety Eric Berry left the game with what coach Andy Reid feared was a torn Achilles tendon that would keep him out for the rest of the season. But the coach said the injury didn’t spoil the mood in the locker room.

”Eric’s not going to allow that to happen,” Reid said, adding that the four-time Pro Bowl selection would remain part of the team. ”I told him to get his coaching career started.”

BANNER NIGHT: Patriots fans came to celebrate the unveiling of a fifth Super Bowl banner and to boo Commissioner Roger Goodell, still angry about the interminable ”Deflategate” scandal that resulted in Brady’s four-game suspension.

But few in the crowd remained when the Chiefs celebrated at the end of the game.

”You can’t take for granted how talented, how well-coached, how skilled and how tough teams are,” Patriots offensive lineman Nate Solder said. ”We’ve got to give everything we’ve got to win a game.”

SIGNS OF AGING? In his first game as a 40-year-old, Brady completed 16 of 36 passes for 267 yards and zero touchdowns. His .444 completion percentage was the sixth-worst in his 272-game career (including playoffs).

”We had it handed to us on our own field,” he said. ”It’s a terrible feeling, and the only people that can do something about it are in that locker room. We’ve got to dig a lot deeper than we did, because we didn’t dig very deep tonight.”

NEW YORK — The Cincinnati Reds watched the New York Mets get a spark from one of their youngsters on Thursday night. The Reds hope to be the ones jump-started by a homegrown prospect Friday, when the two teams play the second game of a four-game series at Citi Field.

Reds rookie left-hander Amir Garrett (3-6, 7.41 ERA) is scheduled to make his first major league start in two and a half months when he takes the mound against Mets right-hander Seth Lugo (5-4, 5.00).

The host Mets won the series opener Thursday, when rookie Brandon Nimmo made his second career start in the cleanup spot and produced his first two-homer game in the big leagues in a 7-2 win.

The enthusiasm displayed by Nimmo — who sprints to first base on walks and nearly caught up to teammate Asdrubal Cabrera on his second home run trot — will be welcomed down the stretch by the Mets (61-79), whose hopes of reaching the playoffs for the third straight season vanished thanks to widespread injuries and underperformance. Nimmo was one of five rookies to play for New York on Thursday night.

“I think bringing a positive energy every day kind of just can lift a team a little bit,” Nimmo said. “I just try and be positive and hopefully that positivity will kind of rub off on some of the other guys. For us, in our situation, the best thing we can do is be positive about the rest of the season (and) try and finish strong.”

Garrett will be looking to provide the same boost when he starts for the Reds (61-80) for the first time since June 20, when he took the loss after allowing six runs over 3 2/3 innings in a 6-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Garrett struggled in his final six big league starts (0-4, 12.49 ERA) before being demoted to Triple-A Louisville on June 23, but Reds manager Bryan Price said Garrett has displayed better velocity in recent minor league starts.

“I noticed it in the last three starts,” Price told reporters. “He’s pitching a little bit more off of his fastball and not using such an expanded mix of pitches. We saw him with lesser velocity pitch very effectively, so I don’t think his success is based on his velocity. However, it never hurts to be able to manage a fastball that’s a tick higher.”

Lugo took the loss in his most recent start last Saturday, when he gave up four runs over five innings as the Mets fell to the Houston Astros, 4-1. He is 0-2 with a 6.93 ERA in his last five starts, a stretch in which he has fashioned a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 29/8 but has not completed six innings.

Garrett played two seasons of college basketball at St. John’s, located a few minutes away from Citi Field, before beginning his professional baseball career. But he has never faced the Mets. Lugo has never opposed the Reds.

WASHINGTON — Don’t tell the Philadelphia Phillies and their young pitchers that these September games do not mean anything.

The Phillies (53-87) are 33 games behind the first-place Washington Nationals (86-54) after a 4-3 loss Thursday in the first contest of a four-game set.

But the games are important for the development of the young Philadelphia pitchers. That includes right-hander Jake Thompson (1-1, 4.50 ERA), who is slated to start Friday against Washington ace Max Scherzer (13-5, 2.19).

Scherzer is an impressive 8-1 against the Phillies, with eight wins in a row. His only loss to the Phillies came in 2008, when he pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 13 starts against the Phillies, he has a 2.34 ERA.

Thompson, 23, is 0-0 with a 6.00 ERA in two games out of the bullpen against Washington this year.

In his career, he is 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA in four games (two starts), against the Nationals. In those games he has gone 15 1/3 innings and allowed 14 hits and five walks, with 11 strikeouts.

Thompson struck out seven and allowed one run and three hits in six innings on Sunday against the Miami Marlins.

“His last start was a real good one,” Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said Thursday. “That is the type of thing we are looking for. That is what we are looking at the rest of the year.”

The Phillies are having a rough season, even after it began with tempered expectations.

“We are not playing for the division,” Mackanin said. “We keep watching (young pitchers) and see what kind of decisions we will make at the end of the year.”

Scherzer was hit in the calf with a batted ball in his last start, in Milwaukee on Saturday, and lasted five innings.

“It was just one of those things that it was tightening up, tightened there in the second (inning) and was basically at the same level of tightness all the way through,” Scherzer told reporters.

The Washington ace will provide a big challenge for the Phillies and their young pitchers.

Phillies first baseman Tommy Joseph, a former catcher, knows these games are big for Thompson and the rotation. Thompson has made just four starts this year at the big-league level while going 5-14 with a 5.25 ERA in 22 starts at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

“They are getting the opportunity to learn,” Joseph, who hit a home run Thursday, said of the young Phillies pitchers. “Pitching to the Nationals is going to be one of their toughest tests. That is what sets those good big-league players apart — the way they prepare every day.”

Joseph is 0-for-9 in his career against Scherzer while teammate Odubel Herrera, who has a 20-game hitting streak, is 10-for-31 (.323). Third baseman Maikel Franco, who could be back in the starting lineup Thursday, is 1-for-18 against Scherzer.

“We will have the opportunity to win ballgames and obviously show the organization that we belong here, why we deserve this opportunity,” Joseph said. “We also have the opportunity to spoil some playoff implications. You always have a reason to play here at the big-league level.”

Washington, with a magic number of four to win the division, won Thursday as shortstop Trea Turner had a two-run single with the bases loaded in the sixth inning for a 4-3 lead.

Then center fielder Michael A. Taylor robbed Andres Blanco of a homer in the seventh.

“Michael Taylor saved the game on that home run that he took away,” Washington manager Dusty Baker said. “That was a tremendous play. We’re used to seeing Michael do things like that in center field because he’s becoming one of the best in the business.”

ATLANTA — Something will have to give when Miami’s Jose Urena and Atlanta’s Mike Foltynewicz meet on Friday.

Urena (12-6, 3.71 ERA) has feasted against the Braves this season and Foltynewicz (10-11, 4.75) has dominated the Marlins. A streak is likely to end when they oppose each other in the second game of a four-game series at SunTrust Park.

Atlanta won the first game on Thursday, scoring two times in the ninth for a 6-5 win. It was the fifth straight loss for the Marlins, who have dropped 10 of their last 11.

Urena has been one of Miami’s most consistent starters all season. He went 3-1 with a 3.91 ERA in August and has won three games in each of the last three months. He did not receive a decision in his start on Sept. 3, despite allowing only one run over seven innings against the Phillies.

Urena is an unworldly 8-1 with a 4.36 ERA in 11 road starts this season.

Some of his best success has come against Atlanta. In three starts against the Braves this season, Urena is 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA. He beat the Braves on Aug. 6 in Atlanta, allowing one run on three hits in six innings.

Urena is 1-3 with a 4.58 ERA in eight career appearances, five starts, against the Braves.

The Atlanta players who have had the most success against Urena this season are Ender Inciarte (3-for-9) and Matt Kemp (3-for-5). Freddie Freeman, Atlanta’s leading hitter, is 0-for-4 against Urena. Tyler Flowers has the only Atlanta home run off Urena this season, but he’s on the disabled list.

“(The Phillies) hit a couple of line drives, but there’s nothing you can do about it. I made a little adjustment,” Urena said after his last start. “They tried to make adjustments and we got little ground balls, pop-ups.”

Foltynewicz will be trying to stop a five-game losing streak that has seen his ERA go from 3.94 to 4.75.

He’s coming off a solid start against the Chicago Cubs; he allowed two runs over 6 1/3 innings but still took the loss. His ERA over the last two starts is 2.38, an indication that he has made the adjustments needed to regain his earlier form.

“I think he was back to where he was before those few outings that got away from him,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “I thought he hung in there, kept competing and kept getting back in the strike zone.”

This season against the Marlins, the right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA in three starts. His last start against the Marlins came on Aug. 5 in Atlanta and he allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings, with a career-best 11 strikeouts. That turned out to be his last victory.

Foltynewicz’s success against the Marlins is somewhat surprising given his struggles against some of their better players. Justin Bour (.571, one homer), Christian Yellich (.600) and Dee Gordon (.333) have had success, while Marcell Ozuna (.111) and Giancarlo Stanton (.200) have not hit particularly well, but each has a home run this season against Foltynewicz.

In six career starts against Miami, Foltynewicz is 3-0 with a 4.13 ERA.

The Marlins are expected to get Bour back very soon, perhaps as early as Friday. He has been on the disabled list with a right oblique strain since July 25.

CHICAGO — As they play out the remainder of the season, long removed from any postseason hopes, the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants have their focus locked solely on the future.

The White Sox, who have spent the season in the beginning stages of a rebuilding process, used the last four days against the defending American League champion Cleveland Indians as a blueprint for what could be ahead.

The White Sox were swept by the Indians, who captured a franchise-record 15th straight victory Thursday night with an 11-2 win. But as the teams continue to move in different directions, White Sox manager Rick Renteria said he considers the Indians an example of what can come through patience and the development of young talent.

“Do we use them (as a gauge)? Absolutely,” Renteria said before Chicago’s fourth straight loss Thursday. “Why wouldn’t you want to look at clubs and what things they’re doing to (win) and then aspire to have your players attain those feats?

“We talk about it a lot because, unless you talk about it, how do you attain it? You’ve got to talk about it.”

Renteria follows a traditionalist’s path when it comes to rebuilding by establishing a foundation built around pitching and defense. The White Sox have seen flashes of what’s possible with some of their young talent, but they know they have to see it on a more consistent basis.

On Friday, the White Sox will send Lucas Giolito (2-1) to the mound to face the Giants and left-hander Matt Moore (4-13). Giolito has won back-to-back starts and allowed just a run and three hits over seven innings in his last outing.

Giolito, who is one of Chicago’s building blocks, made the strong start after he threw seven scoreless innings against Detroit last month. Now, he will look to continue his progress against the Giants, whom he will face for the first time.

The Giants enter the series having lost four of their last six games. They snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday with an 11-3 win over the Colorado Rockies.

Moore, who is 4-1 in five career starts against the White Sox, has registered just win since June 20, but he had strung together four straight quality starts before struggling against the San Diego Padres. Moore has experienced control issues for much of the season, but he had started to see things turn around of late.

“I think as a staff, we’ve been throwing the ball pretty well,” Moore told reporters after his most recent start. “(I) didn’t think I gave us much of a chance to win tonight.”

As Moore looks to keep progressing, the Giants, like the White Sox, will continue to give younger players a chance to show themselves as the season winds down. But on Friday, the Giants expect to have at least one of their veterans back in the lineup.

Manager Bruce Bochy told reporters Wednesday that he hopes catcher Buster Posey is healthy enough to play Friday against the White Sox. Posey had a swollen ring finger after taking a foul ball off his right hand on Tuesday night.

Posey did not play Wednesday before the Giants had Thursday off. Bochy said he hoes Posey could play first base or designated hitter on Friday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

“That’s not a guarantee,” Bochy said, according to MLB.com.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) Wilton Speight had a shaky start.

And, Jim Harbaugh made him sit.

Michigan’s quarterback was benched briefly in the second quarter of last week’s season-opening win.

John O’Korn went into the game before the backup went back to the sideline. Speight made the most of his second chance to play in a 33-17 win over then-No. 17 Florida 33-17. He earned another start for the No. 8 Wolverines (1-0) against Cincinnati (1-0) Saturday in their home opener.

”If you can’t handle that type of situation when something goes bad, it’s the wrong position to be playing,” Harbaugh said. ”I thought he did very well. Sometimes that breaks a guy. Sometimes they bounce back from it the next game. If he had had shown an unwillingness to take a risk, that would be the sign that he can’t handle it very well. He kept firing.”

Speight moved Michigan down the field well enough in the second half that it scored 20 points to pull away from the Gators. He threw two interceptions in the first half that were returned for scores, allowing Florida to lead 17-13 at halftime and giving Harbaugh something to work on in practice.

The coach lamented that Speight and his teammates didn’t turn into defensive-minded players when the Gators were returning the interceptions.

”We were atrocious,” Harbaugh said. ”Just standing there watching and that starts with me and it starts with the coaches. But it will get addressed.”

Here are some things to watch when Michigan meets the Bearcats for the first time:

IT’S NOT ABOUT ME: Even though Cincinnati has never played the Wolverines in football, its coach has faced them many times. First-year boss Luke Fickell played nose guard for Ohio State from 1992-96. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Buckeyes in 1999 and returned as an assistant there in 2002. When Jim Tressel resigned in 2011, Fickell was the program’s interim coach before staying with the school as an assistant from 2012 until last season.

”This is about our team, about our program, not about me,” Fickell said. ”Not about the history I’ve had where I’ve been and the history I’ve had with the University of Michigan. … The reality is I’m probably not going to make a whole lot of plays on Saturday afternoon.”

Michigan has lost 12 of 13 games to Ohio State with the only win during that stretch coming with Fickell as Tressel’s temporary replacement.

SWARMING DEFENSE: Michigan used its speed on defense to close gaps quickly when the Gators had the ball, making up for perhaps a lack of experience with 10 first-time starters.

”It was the best since I’ve been here coaching that I’ve seen our defense run to the football,” Harbaugh said. ”When holes opened up, they got closed. And to get to three fumbles? We had six last year. We were diving on their mistakes.”

LESSON LEARNED: Cincinnati opened with a 12-point victory over Austin Peay, but the Bearcats were not happy with their preparation or productions. They were outgained 313-248 and had just 15 first downs. Cincinnati’s defense, though, took advantage of two turnovers to earn the victory.

”Maybe I didn’t prepare myself and expect as much adversity,” Fickell said. ”I think that’s bad. It hit us in the face. When we needed it, the offense did a good job and the defense stepped up.”

PUT ME IN, COACH: Michigan may have trouble keeping all of its running backs happy. Even though backup Ty Isaac run for 114 yards, he had just 11 carries against Florida. Chris Evans, the starter, had twice as many rushing attempts and ran for 78 yards. Karan Higdon rushed for 29 yards on seven carries.

JUST FOR KICKS: The closer-than-expected game may have led to Cincinnati kicker Andrew Gantz missing an extra point and a field goal.

”Hopefully, he got those jitters out of him,” Fickell said.

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A look at what’s happening all around the major today:

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SWEET 16?

Mike Clevinger and the Indians try to extend their franchise-record winning streak to 16 games when they begin a series against Baltimore. Clevinger (8-5, 3.50 ERA) has delivered a pair of scoreless outings during Cleveland’s streak and has perhaps found his footing after an inconsistent start to his big league career. Orioles lefty Wade Miley (8-11, 4.91) will try to slow a lineup that slugged five homers Thursday night against the White Sox.

STREAKING SNAKES, TOO

The Diamondbacks can stretch their club-record winning streak to 14 games in the opener of a set against the Padres. The run includes six victories over the NL West-leading Dodgers, and Arizona even led for 97 consecutive innings – the second longest span in the majors since 1900 – before the Dodgers scored first on Wednesday night. Patrick Corbin (13-11, 3.83) has a pair of victories during this streak, and he’ll seek another against San Diego’s Jordan Lyles (0-2, 6.71).

DODGER BLUES

The Dodgers would match their worst skid since May 2013 with another loss to the Rockies. Los Angeles has dropped seven straight, and the latest was perhaps the most disheartening – Colorado smacked around ace Clayton Kershaw en route to a 9-1 win Thursday night. Now it’s Yu Darvish’s turn to try ending this slump in a matchup against German Marquez at Dodger Stadium.

TO THE MAX

Max Scherzer hasn’t lost a start since June 21, and he’ll go for another victory when the Nationals host the Phillies. Scherzer (13-5, 2.19) is 5-0 with a 2.37 ERA in his past 11 starts, including five effective innings versus Milwaukee last time out before exiting with a bruised calf after being struck by a line drive.

FEELING FINE?

Chris Archer (9-8, 3.76) is set to return after throwing just eight pitches in his previous outing before exiting with forearm tightness. The Rays right-hander gets a tough draw in the Red Sox and left-hander Drew Pomeranz (14-5, 3.36), who lost last time out against the Yankees to end a 14-start unbeaten stretch.

COME ON IN

The Braves are offering free tickets to fans from Florida, Georgia and South Carolina displaced by Hurricane Irma. During a four-game series against the Marlins which began Thursday night, the Braves will give a complimentary ticket to anyone showing a valid Florida ID. The offer also is open to residents of Georgia and South Carolina counties under mandatory evacuation orders. Braves president of business Derek Schiller says he hopes the offer ”can help take their mind off the storm for a few hours.”

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LOS ANGELES — Yu Darvish does not have to be a co-ace for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the club would like to see something resembling consistency when he pitches Friday against the Colorado Rockies.

Corey Seager, on the other hand, just might have to be a savior, as he returns to the starting lineup Friday for a struggling Dodgers club that has lost 12 of 13 games and a season-worst seven in a row.

Los Angeles still owns the best record in baseball at 92-48.

The Dodgers are 82-33 when Seager has started a game this season, and they are 10-15 when he has not. The shortstop hasn’t started since Aug. 27 due to right elbow inflammation, going 1-for-5 strictly as a pinch hitter since.

“Corey is going to be in there (Friday), but those other seven guys still have to put forth good at-bats and find ways to get hits,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Yeah, we’re better in the lineup (with Seager), but once a guy is in the batter’s box, Corey isn’t in the batter’s box with him. We, as an offensive unit, have to continue to grind.”

A solid outing from Darvish (8-11, 4.09 ERA overall) could ease the stress on a faulty offense. The right-hander will make his sixth start for the Dodgers on Friday and will try to rebound from his worst outing with his new team, when he gave up five runs on eight hits in just three innings of a defeat at San Diego on Saturday.

Darvish will pitch opposite Colorado’s German Marquez in a battle of starters who were not at their best in their last outings. Marquez (10-6, 4.26 ERA) gave up four runs on six hits over six innings to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday, although he did strike out nine. But, like Darvish’s Dodgers, his team also lost.

It already has been a wild ride with the Dodgers for Darvish, who was acquired from the Texas Rangers on July 31. His final Rangers start was a 10-run nightmare against the Miami Marlins. Nine days later, he fired seven scoreless innings at the New York Mets in his Dodgers debut.

Since then, though, Darvish has slowly slipped from two earned runs allowed against the Diamondbacks on Aug. 10 to three allowed against the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 16. From there, Darvish landed on the 10-day disabled list with lower back tightness.

On Aug. 27, Darvish gave up three runs in five innings while taking the loss against the Milwaukee Brewers, then he lost again in the second game of Saturday’s day-night doubleheader at San Diego.

“I told Yu just to keep his confidence,” manager Dave Roberts said after Saturday’s doubleheader, according to MLB.com. “He’s trending the right way. I know the line score doesn’t look that way. There’s no wavering on our side as far as belief in him. There are no health concerns. Sometimes things go sideways, but he’s had a lot of success in this league, and we know it’s going to come.”

Yet confidence would seem hard to come by for a pitcher who sounds a little flummoxed at the moment.

“There’s a gap between what I’m thinking in my mind and what I’m actually doing on the mound,” Darvish said through an interpreter. “If I fix that, I feel I can pitch much better. As an example, sometimes I crow-step too much to the third base side, but in my mind I’m stepping toward first base side. It’s got me off course.

“Say you think you are walking straight, but you actually aren’t and you’re trying to fix it. That’s frustrating, right? It’s the same thing.”

With that in mind, it is anybody’s guess as to how he handles the Rockies as the Dodgers look for somebody to stop the bleeding. He has never faced the Rockies in his five-year big league career.

Like Darvish, Marquez has never faced his Friday night opponent. The rookie was 9-4 after a victory on July 29 at Washington, but he has won just once since and has posted a 4.69 ERA in seven starts since the start of August.

He was holding the red-hot Diamondbacks in check during his most recent start, but two home runs in the sixth inning were his undoing.

“Those are just things that are going to happen,” Marquez said through an interpreter. “I just need to focus on my next start.”

ATLANTA (AP) As the Miami Marlins began a weeklong road trip, they couldn’t help but wonder what will be there when they get back home.

Hurricane Irma was bearing down on South Florida with potentially catastrophic force, a beast of a storm that already killed at least 11 people and left thousands homeless across the northern Caribbean.

The Marlins began a four-game series in Atlanta on Thursday night, having arrived on a chartered flight that was more crowded than usual after the team allowed the families of players and staff to come along on the road trip.

While that helped ease some immediate concerns, it was impossible to ignore what was going on back in Miami. Highways were jammed as more than a half-million people were ordered to evacuate amid a desperate search for gasoline and lodging .

”We’re still witnessing Harvey and what went on with the Gulf Coast and that devastation,” Miami manager Don Mattingly said, referring to the storm that less than two weeks ago inundated the Houston area with record rainfall and flooding. ”Obviously, to see another one coming, you pay attention.”

The Marlins were mired in a slump that has all but knocked them out of the playoff race. They took another blow in the opener of the series at SunTrust Park, giving up two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lose 6-5 .

It was Miami’s fifth straight loss and 10th in 11 games, leaving them eight games back in the NL wild-card race with only 22 games left in the regular season.

Dan Straily, who started Thursday and lasted five innings, insisted the players were able to block out any concern about the approaching storm once they took the field.

”There’s one thing ballplayers are really good at, and that’s compartmentalizing our life,” he said. ”It’s not that we’re not thinking about that, but for three hours a night we focus on something else completely. Speaking for myself, I can tell you that when I was on the mound I didn’t want to think about what’s going to happen down there the next few days.

”Obviously we’re hoping for the best down there for our homes, but I don’t think it’s affecting our play,” he added.

Before the game, however, Irma was a dominant topic in a rather subdued Miami clubhouse. Players tracked the potential path of the Category 5 storm on their cellphones and hit up reporters for the latest news.

”The reality is: that is reality,” Mattingly said. ”It’s a tough situation and a lot of people have a chance of being affected or have already been affected. We’ve got guys that grew up in Cuba. We’ve got guys from the Dominican (Republic). We’ve got guys from Puerto Rico. So, it’s going to affect a lot of people and has a chance to affect a lot of things. To ask them not to be thinking about it at all, I think, is really naive. But I also think as professionals, these guys are pretty used to dealing with things.”

The Braves offered free tickets to fans from Florida, Georgia and South Carolina displaced by the hurricane. SunTrust Park opened this season alongside Interstate 75, a popular choice for Floridians driving north through Georgia to escape the storm.

”We know how difficult it has been for those who have had to pack up and leave their homes as Hurricane Irma approaches,” said Derek Schiller, the Braves president of business. ”We hope we can help take their mind off the storm for a few hours by coming to enjoy a baseball game.”

In addition, Atlanta Motor Speedway opened its camping facilities Thursday to evacuees seeking refuge from Irma. The NASCAR track, which is about 25 miles south of the city, offered both its RV and tent campgrounds free of charge, including access to hot showers and restroom facilities.

The massive complex is equipped to handle thousands of campers during its annual race weekend.

The Marlins will play four games in Atlanta through Sunday, then head to Philadelphia for a three-game series that begins next Tuesday. They finally return to Miami on Sept. 15 to host a series against Milwaukee.

No one knows what will be awaiting them in South Florida.

”You feel for the people that had to stay,” center fielder Christian Yelich said. ”There’s a lot of uncertainty down there.”

Yelich prepared for the possibility that the Marlins may not be able to return home as scheduled next week. When Hurricane Harvey pummeled the Texas coast, the Houston Astros were forced to shift a three-game series against the Texas Rangers to Tropicana Field in Tampa.

Now, the state of Florida is in the line of fire.

”I packed for probably an extra week or two on the road, just in case,” Yelich said. ”You never know what’s going to happen. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that. But you’re just hoping everybody comes through it all right. You see the videos and the pictures from the islands that this thing’s been hitting, and it’s a lot of devastation.”

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AP Sports Writer Charles Odum contributed to this report.

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Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paul%20newberry

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL

MADISON, Wis. (AP) No. 9 Wisconsin is extending a helping hand to its next nonconference opponent.

Florida Atlantic plans to arrive in Madison in time for the game Saturday against the Badgers, though the return trip is in question with Hurricane Irma potentially making landfall in South Florida this weekend.

The stakes of what should be a rather easy victory for Wisconsin have become a secondary concern. The schools have discussed contingencies to accommodate Florida Atlantic if the team can’t return to its Boca Raton campus because of the storm, including extra nights in hotel rooms and the use of the Badgers’ athletic and training facilities.

”Whatever we need to do to accommodate that,” Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said. ”Those are real things to the players and obviously to any of the teams down there.”

It might be tough enough for the Owls (0-1) to focus on a game in which they will be decided underdogs. They may have a new high-profile coach in Lane Kiffin, but the talent level doesn’t match the team that they’ll have to face on the road at Camp Randall Stadium.

Last week, Florida Atlantic got dented for 416 yards and five touchdowns on 48 carries by Navy’s triple-option attack in a 42-19 loss at home. Now the Owls have to face the Badgers’ no-gimmick, in-your-face run game.

Starting running back Bradrick Shaw was questionable with a right leg injury, though Wisconsin still has plenty of options. Freshman Jonathan Taylor had a terrific debut last week with 87 yards on nine carries. Chris James, a transfer from Pittsburgh, is eager is to get over a slow start after playing in his first game since the 2015 season.

The Badgers (1-0) as a whole got off to a slow start in the opener against Utah State, falling behind 10-0 early before blowing away the Aggies for a 59-10 win. Expect Wisconsin to try to establish the run early against the Owls.

Chryst said the Badgers missed some runs by the smallest of details early in the opener, whether it was a lineman making a wrong move, or a back needing to be a little more patient.

”They just didn’t hit it where it was designed to go,” Chryst said. ”We had a chance for it to be bigger.”

Other notes and things to watch in the first meeting between the schools:

NOT ON PARR?: Statistically, Florida Atlantic starting quarterback Daniel Parr had a respectable outing against Navy, going 19 of 30 for 281 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The scores went for 95 and 62 yards, respectively, though the latter touchdown came with the game well in hand in the fourth quarter.

But Kiffin said this week that he would evaluate his quarterbacks. Parr is a sophomore who made his second career start. He was listed atop the depth chart with junior Jason Driskel, who has made 13 career starts.

Parr ”did do some good things. His numbers weren’t bad,” Kiffin said. ”We were not playing against the greatest defense in football so we would have liked to have been even more productive.”

TAYLOR MADE: Taylor emerged through camp as a candidate for carries after junior Taiwan Deal went down with a right leg injury. The freshman has burst into a conversation about the top of the backfield depth chart that had been dominated by Shaw and James. Chryst said he likes Taylor’s tempo.

”Everything is prep,” Taylor said. ”You just work (on) getting that rhythm in sync, so when the game time comes it needs to be executed.”

RUN IT UP: Florida Atlantic ran for just 40 yards on 24 carries last week against Navy. Kiffin would like to get more touches for his running backs, though that might not be the best plan against a defense that has held opponents to under the 100-yard rushing mark in 17 of the 28 games with Chryst as head coach.

DOWN LINEMAN: Wisconsin will be without a key defensive lineman, though, after Chikwe Obasih hurt his left leg in practice on Wednesday. Chryst wasn’t sure of the severity of the injury, though he said he didn’t think it would end Obasih’s season. The senior who has started 31 games is part of an athletic and experienced starting front that also includes Alec James and Conor Sheehy.

NOT PICKY: Badgers QB Alex Hornibrook recovered after a choppy start against Utah State to finish 15 of 23 for career highs of 244 yards and three scores. The sophomore extended the team streak of seven games without quarterback throwing an interception.

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Tom Herman called the rebuilding job at Texas a marathon, not a sprint. In either scenario, the Longhorns tripped and fell at the start.

Herman faced a lot of questions this week after a season-opening home loss to Maryland, and the only answer that will soothe Longhorns fans is a convincing win over San Jose State (1-1) on Saturday. Texas should have all the advantages of size, speed and home field, but even Herman called his team mentally fragile.

Texas needs a confidence builder, and quick. After Saturday, the Longhorns play at Southern California before starting the Big 12 schedule. Just one game into the season and the Longhorns have already held a players-only meeting to rally the troops.

”We watched film and can tell everybody’s face is just disgusted on how we played,” Texas defensive back P.J. Locke III said. ”Us losing like that, we’ve got to know that that can’t fly around here.”

Texas fans would say the same after three straight losing seasons. While Herman might call it a marathon rebuilding project, he’s getting paid sprinter money at $5.2 million this season.

”The first hiccup is not to panic. The first hiccup is not to press eject. The first hiccup is not to just fire people from their jobs or fire players from their spots on the depth chart. We got to coach them better,” Herman said.

San Jose State will look overmatched on paper, but so did a Maryland team that scored 51 points against Texas in convincing and often bruising style. The Spartans lost their season opener to South Florida – coached by Herman’s predecessor Charlie Strong – and beat FCS opponent Cal Poly last week.

Five things to watch when Texas and San Jose State play Saturday:

BUECHELE’S BUM SHOULDER: Texas starting quarterback Shane Buechele has not thrown in practice this week because of a bruised shoulder and Herman said his status will be a game-day decision.

Buechele is 5-8 in his career as a starter. He threw for 375 yards and two touchdowns against Maryland. If Buechele can’t play, freshman Sam Ehlinger will start with wide receiver Jerrod Heard as the emergency option. Heard is a former quarterback who started much of the 2015 season when Texas finished 5-7. Buechele set a Texas freshman record last season with nearly 3,000 yards passing and 21 touchdowns.

SPARTANS PASSERS: Sophomore Josh Love started the first two games but it was freshman Montel Adams who led the comeback win over Cal Poly with 183 yards passing and three touchdowns. His four touchdowns passes this season are the most by a Spartans freshman since freshman eligibility was reinstated in 1972. Whoever is throwing the ball will face a Texas secondary that allowed Maryland quarterbacks to complete 12 of 15 passes with two touchdowns.

MISSING LINEBACKERS: Texas gave up 263 yards rushing to Maryland at 6.1 yards per carry and linebackers Malik Jefferson, Naashon Hughes and Anthony Wheeler were routinely caught out of position or missed tackles. Texas has to shore up its run-support defense not just against the Spartans but for the season. ”I take losses personally and I was hurting a lot,” after the loss, Hughes said.

HOT HOLTON HILL: The Texas defensive back leads the Longhorns in scoring after one game with two touchdowns against Maryland. He returned an interception for a touchdown on the third play of the season and returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown. They were Texas’s first non-offensive touchdowns since 2015.

TEXAS SPECIAL TEAMS: Longhorns special teams continue to be entertaining and maddening with big plays and mistakes galore. Against Maryland, Texas scored two special teams touchdowns on a punt return and blocked field goal. The Longhorns also missed a field goal, had another blocked and returned for a TD and fumbled a kickoff to set up a score.

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Illinois will face high-scoring Western Kentucky at home in its first prime-time matchup of the season.

Coach Lovie Smith played 12 true freshmen and started three on defense for the Illini for the first time since 1980. He acknowledged that the situation was unusual, but that he would rely on his newcomers again heading into Saturday’s game.

”We knew a lot of freshmen would have the chance to get early time,” Smith said. ”It may be even more this week.”

Even though it was just their first game, Smith still expects to see growth from his young players and their next challenge will be much tougher than their first.

Last season, led by quarterback Mike White, the Hilltoppers went 11-3 and capped their run with a 51-31 victory over Memphis in the Boca Raton Bowl. This year, WKU has picked up right where it left off.

Against EKU, White threw for 264 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, running backs Marquez Trigg and D’Andre Ferby combined for 118 yards and three touchdowns.

Illinois gave up 375 yards of total offense to Ball State, including 171 yards on the ground, but the team did force two turnovers. Defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson knows his players have to be more disciplined against WKU, but wants them to continue getting their hands on the ball.

”That’s what we preach,” Nickerson said. ”That’s our mentality. We want to take the football away and we want to score with it.”

MIKE AND MIKE

On his first play of the season, wide receiver Mike Dudek was leveled by a Ball State defender on a punt return. But the next time he touched the ball, it was on a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chayce Crouch. Running back Mike Epstein also got in the end zone against the Cardinals, scoring twice in his first college game. Both players recorded over 100 all-purpose yards and their versatility could present problems for a WKU defense that gave up 345 yards of total offense last week.

MAKING HISTORY

WKU has recorded six straight winning seasons. A win against Illinois Saturday night would be the program’s first over a Big Ten opponent in seven matchups. It would also be just WKU’s sixth victory in its last 20 true road openers.

NEW COACHES

Mike Sanford and Clayton White are both in their first seasons at WKU. Sanford was named the 20th head coach in school history, while White has taken over as the defensive coordinator. Last week, White helped the Hilltopper defense hold the Colonels to 17 points, but he knows Illinois’ size and speed can present different challenges.

VETERAN PLAYMAKER

Illini linebacker Tre Watson started his junior season with two takeaways against Ball State – a fumble recovery and his first career interception. He also totaled 12 tackles against the Cardinals, but wasn’t satisfied with how his team performed on third downs. Ball State converted 12 of their 21 third down attempts and even kept a few drives alive on third and long. Watson expects his squad to show more closure against WKU, which converted 10 of 17 third downs in its opener.

LOOKING AHEAD

Illinois closes out its nonconference schedule next week at No. 21 South Florida in its second consecutive prime-time game. USF is currently 2-0 and has outscored opponents 75-39. The Bulls high-powered offense could present a lot of problems for an inexperienced Illini defense.

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PHOENIX — Do not look now, but the best team in the National League West might be further inland than it was a month ago.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been that good.

Arizona has won a franchise-record 13 consecutive games, including a pair of three-game sweeps in 10 days over the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, whose roll to the best record in major league history is over.

In between, the D-backs (82-58) swept a three-game series in Colorado, the top contender for the other NL wild-card spot. Arizona finds itself a season-high 24 games over .500 entering a weekend series against the San Diego Padres.

The Diamondbacks played the past four games without MVP candidate and cleanup hitter Paul Goldschmidt, who is dealing with right elbow soreness, although an MRI taken Monday indicated no structural damage.

Even that did not slow the club.

Arizona has taken rookie manager Torey Lovullo’s mantra of playing “downhill baseball” to an extreme. The Diamondbacks did not trail in a game for 97 consecutive innings during the streak, tied with the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers for the second-longest streak in the modern era. The 1942 Yankees did not trail for 100 straight innings.

“We’re battling, grinding and sticking together, and those are things that make you win those close games and win 13 straight,” Lovullo said.

In other historical news, J.D. Martinez became the 18th player to hit four homers in a game when he did it in the D-backs’ 13-0 victory at Dodger Stadium on Monday, capping his big night with homers in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. Martinez has 18 homers in 42 games in Arizona since being acquired in a July 18 trade with Detroit.

The Diamondbacks will look to extend the run against San Diego (63-78) on Friday behind left-hander Patrick Corbin (13-11), who has a personal five-game winning streak. His ERA is 3.83, the lowest it has been since April 30.

The Arizona rotation is 12-0 with a 1.56 ERA during the winning streak.

Right-hander Jordan Lyles (0-2, 6.71 ERA) will make his second start since joining the Padres in early August.

The Diamondbacks’ never-behind streak was broken in the first inning in Los Angeles on Wednesday, but Arizona responded with a run in the second inning en route to its team-record fourth consecutive series sweep.

The Dodgers still have a double-digit division lead, but they may not feel as safe as they did a month ago after Arizona outscored them 19-2 in a three-game set at Dodger Stadium that concluded Wednesday and 21-7 in a three-game sweep at Chase Field, Aug. 29-31.

Los Angeles’ division lead is down to 10 games after it was 21 games two weeks ago.

The Padres have won four of seven after beating the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 on Thursday to halt a three-game losing streak.

“The guys are resilient,” San Diego manager Andy Green said after the Padres took three of four from the Dodgers. “They believe in each other. They’ve played good baseball for an extended period of time after starting the season 15-30. You don’t get the luxury of being a championship team by X-ing out the first month and a half, but we’re taking steps in the right direction.”

Corbin has given up two earned runs his past 35 2/3 innings, and with that streak has joined the four other Arizona starters with an ERA under 4.00. No other team in the league can say that.

Corbin is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in three starts against the Padres this season and 5-5 with a 3.49 ERA against them in his career. He is 8-3 with a 2.64 ERA in 14 starts at Chase Field this season.

Lyles signed with the Padres after being released by Colorado in early August. A former starter, Lyles made 33 relief appearances with the Rockies this season before joining the Padres’ rotation for the second game of a doubleheader against the Dodgers on Saturday. He gave up six hits and two runs in 4 1/3 innings en route to a no-decision in the Padres’ 7-2 victory.

Lyles is 1-6 with a 7.26 ERA in 16 career appearances against Arizona, eight as a starter. He has given up 41 hits (five homers) and 25 runs in 24 innings at Chase Field, all while with Colorado.

CHIBA, Japan (AP) Kevin Sutherland and Glen Day shot 7-under 65 on Friday to share the first-round lead in the Japan Airlines Championship, the first PGA Tour Champions event in Japan.

”The greens are fabulous,” Sutherland said. ”It’s not even just good shape, it’s in great shape. So as a result of that, it lends itself to some good scoring.”

Winless on the 50-and-over tour, Sutherland has had at least a share of the first-round lead in three of the last four events. He ended up losing to childhood rival Scott McCarron – a stroke back Friday – the previous two times, finishing second three weeks ago in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open in upstate New York and tying for third last week in the Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary, Alberta.

Sutherland closed with a bogey, three-putting the par-4 ninth at Narita Golf Club.

”Early in the round I hit the ball really, really well,” Sutherland said. ”I drove the ball very well. On the back side, I made a bunch of long putts and unfortunately I three-putted the last hole. But I left myself a lot of long putts and that’s going to happen eventually. If I drive the ball a little bit better tomorrow, I’m going to like my chances.”

He’s making his first trip to Japan.

”It’s been fabulous,” Sutherland said. ”I’ve never been to Tokyo before. It’s an amazing city. I’ve had just a great time. The people can’t be nicer. It makes you want to come back.”

The only player to shoot 59 in tour history, the 53-year-old Sutherland has five straight top-10 finishes. His lone PGA Tour victory came in 2002 at La Costa in the Accenture Match Play Championship, when he beat fellow Sacramento, California, player McCarron 1 up in the 36-hole final.

The 51-year-old Day also bogeyed his last hole – the par-4 18th.

”I didn’t play great, but I scored great,” said Day, also winless on the senior tour after winning one PGA Tour title. ”I’m not hitting the ball on the button by any means. I missed the 18th fairway by 50 yards. But I putted great and so, hey, they don’t draw pictures.”

McCarron has won three of the last six events to tie Bernhard Langer for the tour victory lead with four.

”I had a nice round today,” said McCarron, also visiting Japan for the first time. ”I missed some putts I should have made and I made some putts I shouldn’t have made. So today was kind of a Jerry Seinfeld day, even steven. Just one of those things. I missed a couple of short ones and some easy birdie putts and all of a sudden I make putts that break 8 feet.”

Japan’s Massy Kuramoto was two strokes back at 67 along with Paul Goydos, Billy Mayfair, Carlos Franco, Wes Short Jr., Gene Sauers and Steve Flesch. Kuramoto has seven victories on the Japan Senior Golf Tour after winning 34 times on the Japan Golf Tour. Goydos, the 3M Championship winner last month in Minnesota, parred the final 10 holes after playing the first eight in 5 under.

Fan favorite John Daly, playing alongside McCarron, opened with a 69.

Tom Watson, at 68 years old, shot a 70.

AMES, Iowa (AP) Iowa made it painfully obvious how far Iowa State had fallen behind its Big Ten rivals last season, whipping the Cyclones by 39 points.

Iowa State and second-year coach Matt Campbell are eager to show the visiting Hawkeyes (1-0) on Saturday that they’ve closed that gap.

The Cyclones (1-0) have won three of their last four games dating back to the end of last season. And although those wins came against struggling Kansas and Texas Tech, and Northern Iowa of the FCS, the Cyclones are markedly improved since being embarrassed 42-3 in Iowa City a year ago.

”They were trying to understand us, and we were trying to understand them,” Campbell said of his 2016 team. ”I don’t think there’s any hiding. We weren’t a very good football team a year ago – especially early in the season.”

Iowa’s defense led the way in a 24-3 win over Wyoming last weekend, overcoming three turnovers from new starting quarterback Nate Stanley – though he also threw three TDs passes in just 15 attempts.

The Hawkeyes might have the best front seven that Iowa State will face all season, putting pressure on its rebuilt offensive line to help establish a running game and free up space for Jacob Park, who was 27-of-35 passing for 271 yards and two TDs last week.

Here are some keys to consider as Iowa State and Iowa prepare to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the series’ renewal in 1977.

STANLEY’S DEBUT

There was a lot to like about Stanley’s performance against Wyoming, which included long TD strikes to Noah Fant and Nick Easley. But the 6-foot-5 Stanley might be headed back to the bench if he keeps giving his opponents the ball. ”You have to realize, things close down quickly, and those guys in the other-colored jerseys are always going to be reaching for the ball and trying to knock it out. I think it’s just more of a mental thing,” Ferentz said.

CYCLONES RECEIVERS

Iowa State senior receiver Allen Lazard caught eight passes for 108 yards, Hakeem Butler had seven for 75 yards and Trever Ryen caught six balls for 55 yards in last week’s 42-24 win over Northern Iowa. The Cyclones’ ability to spread the field in the passing game will be taxing for an Iowa secondary with three new starters. ”They have some really nice wide receivers. They’re tall, they’re athletic. They move around well,” Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell said.

LINED UP

Iowa State’s struggling offensive line was a big reason why last year’s game was such a blowout. But that unit, which featured four Iowans as starters in the opener, has vastly improved since then.

”All four of those guys are playing good football, to be honest,” Campbell said. ”They’re still young and have a lot of growth (left).”

EXTRA POINTS

Iowa leads the series 42-22. But Ferentz is just 9-9 against the Cyclones despite typically being favored. The Hawkeyes are a 2 +-point favorite Saturday. … The road team had won four straight in this series until Iowa won convincingly last year in Iowa City. … The Cyclones and Florida were the only schools to open the season with two interception returns for scores in the same game.

HE SAID IT

”It’s almost like you don’t care. That’s really insulting to say to anybody that competes in anything. I don’t know, I guess I haven’t jumped up and down. Have to do some jumping jacks or something, be a little bit more demonstrative out there,” Ferentz when asked about the notion that he and the Hawkeyes don’t care as much about the rivalry as Iowa State does.

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WACO, Texas (AP) Before new Baylor coach Matt Rhule had consecutive 10-win seasons and won an American Athletic Conference title at Temple, there was a home loss to FCS team Fordham in his first season.

Soon after a loss to Liberty in his debut with the Big 12 Bears, Rhule got a text from his former Owls quarterback Phillip Walker, now a rookie on the Indianapolis Colts practice squad. The message read, ”Remember a loss isn’t a loss, it’s a blessing.”

”Those kids, after winning the championship, when we went to dinner, don’t talk about winning the championship, they talk about losing to Fordham, and it was just a bunch of freshmen out there,” Rhule said. ”We were able to learn from the lessons of losing to Fordham. We were able to learn from the lessons of losing to Idaho.”

The Bears certainly hope to learn from a loss to a team just starting the two-year transition from FCS to the FBS level.

Baylor (0-1), still with plenty of upperclassmen to go with quite a few freshmen, is home again Saturday night against a UTSA team eager to play.

The Roadrunners’ scheduled opener last weekend at home against Houston was canceled because of Hurricane Harvey.

”Our team has a tremendous amount of energy built up and wants to play against another opponent,” said coach Frank Wilson, who last year in his first season led UTSA to its first-ever bowl game.

Rhule has no plans to do what he did at Temple and just start playing a bunch of youngsters. But 11 true freshmen played in the opener and maybe five more could get in against the Roadrunners.

”We just have to play freshmen right now,” Rhule said. ”Not because we don’t want to play with the older guys, but because of the injuries, and because of the lack of depth.”

Sophomore receiver Pooh Stricklin called the opening 48-45 loss to Liberty a ”major, major reality check” and said the team will have a different mindset against UTSA.

Some other things to know about the first-ever meeting between the Bears and Roadrunners:

NO CHANCE

Baylor safety Chance Waz is suspended for the first half Saturday. He was ejected from the Liberty game for a targeting penalty enforced after officials looked at replay during a commercial break after a two-point conversion try and determined he hit a player with the crown of his helmet. ”Chance certainly wasn’t trying to hurt him. He was just trying to play fast and reacting,” Rhule said.

BEAR RUNNERS

Baylor sophomore RB JaMycal Hasty is likely out at least four weeks with a sprained knee, though he is not expected to need surgery after getting hurt in the opener. The Bears were already without 1,000-yard rusher Terence Williams, a junior still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. John Lovett ran for 89 yards and two touchdowns vs. Liberty and is among three freshman runners.

BEATING UTSA

Graduate transfer QB Anu Solomon made his Baylor debut throwing for 278 yards with three touchdowns and running for 97 yards against Liberty. But Solomon beat the Roadrunners twice while at Arizona, throwing for 460 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions.

FOR OPENERS

UTSA has won five of its six season openers, including a 3-1 mark when starting on the road. The Roadrunners, who started play in 2011, won’t make up the Houston game that would have been at home and now has only 11 regular-season games.

HOOPS STAR ON THE GRIDIRON

Ishmail Wainright, a four-year letterman for the Baylor basketball team, hadn’t played in a football game since his freshman year in high school in 2009. He will now be the starting tight end against UTSA because of starter Jordan Feuerbacher’s hand injury.

CLOSE TO HOME

The Roadrunners won’t leave the state of Texas for a game until going to FIU for a Conference USA game on Nov. 4. They finish the regular season Nov. 25 at Louisiana Tech.

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FOX Sports Sun's Rich Hollenberg and Orestes Destrade get you set for the Tampa Bay Rays' road trip to Fenway Park to take on the Boston Red Sox.

ZURICH (AP) FIFA has opened a disciplinary case against England midfielder Dele Alli over an apparently obscene gesture during a World Cup qualifier against Slovakia.

Alli appeared to make the gesture toward French referee Clement Turpin after not being awarded a free kick for being blocked off by a defender near the end of Monday’s game.

Alli and England manager Gareth Southgate said it was not aimed at the referee but England defender Kyle Walker.

But FIFA says the incident warrants disciplinary proceedings being opened.

PARIS (AP) Montpellier fans can have their favorite French team’s jersey replaced after the manufacturer in charge of making the club badge made a clumsy spelling mistake.

The French league club said in a statement on Friday that the manufacturer, whose name has not been revealed, made two sets of logos for the club, including one with an ”L” missing out of the city’s name.

Montpellier, which won the French League title once back in 2012, apologized to its fans, who can either be reimbursed, have the logo replaced on their shirt, or get a new jersey.

LONDON (AP) England lost another wicket and added 18 runs against the West Indies in the brief playing time between the rain at Lord’s on day two of the series-deciding cricket test on Friday.

When an early lunch was taken, England was 64-5, still trailing the West Indies by 59 runs.

Dawid Malan was dismissed for 20, from 13 overnight. He was caught behind, nicking a delivery just outside off stump, and gave Kemar Roach a third wicket in the innings.

Jonny Bairstow came in and didn’t score before walking back to the pavilion in the next over as rain also returned.

Ben Stokes, also 13 overnight, was a team-best 24 not out.

There was only 35 minutes of play in the morning.

The forecast for the rest of the day was for showers.

We'll always have Justin Verlander on the cover of Major League Baseball 2K12

The No. 9 Badgers (1-0) will be looking to build on their big second half against Utah State, when they ran for 234 yards en route to a 59-10 victory.

Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst was pleased with efforts from a handful of his young playmakers, particularly at running back and receiver. True freshman running back Jonathan Taylor had nine carries for a team-high 87 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore RB Bradrick Shaw added 18 carries for 86 yards as the Badgers roared to a 49-0 advantage after halftime.

“I thought (Taylor) had a pretty good tempo to him,” Chryst said. “I was impressed with that. ‘Brad,’ one of the things we certainly like about him is when he takes it north and south, he can hit a hole. Each guy had his moments.”

Shaw, who has been hampered by a right leg injury, was listed as questionable on the team’s injury report released Monday.

Sophomore wide receivers A.J. Taylor and Quitez Cephus combined for six receptions for 71 yards and one touchdown against the Aggies. Chryst said their biggest area of improvement is confidence.

“I think part of that comes from knowledge of what they’re doing,” he said. “I think they know better what to expect. … I think they both have kind of earned that confidence by working. So I think they’re more relaxed.”

First-year FAU coach Lane Kiffin dropped his debut, 41-19 to Navy on Friday night, when the Owls gave up 426 rushing yards. The game was delayed twice by lightning and lasted 4 hours and 50 minutes.

“I know you are going to look at the score and think that we didn’t play very well defensively, but we did some really good things defensively and then fell apart at times,” Kiffin said. “That is one of the best scoring offenses in all of football.”

Chryst said he was impressed with FAU’s effort.

“I think there’s certainly energy,” Chryst said.

“I think in watching their game, I know the score probably wasn’t what they wanted, but they flew around and you saw a lot of good football players and things that he’s brought in there. But that’s from the outside looking in and watching tape.”

Kiffin, trying to improve a program that finished with a 3-9 record in each of the past three seasons, hasn’t settled on a starting quarterback.

Sophomore quarterback Daniel Parr got his first career start against Navy, completing 19 of 30 passes for 281 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. Sophomore DeAndre Johnson, a junior college transfer with more mobility, is also in the mix.

Kiffin said he’d like to play both Parr and Johnson. Johnson had four rushes for 31 yards against the Midshipmen.

“(Parr) did do some good things,” Kiffin said. “His numbers weren’t bad. We were not playing against the greatest defense in football, so we would have liked to have been more productive.”

One disappointing development for Florida Atlantic was the right knee injury suffered by junior defensive tackle Ray Ellis late in the second quarter against Navy. Kiffin said Ellis, who was sidelined last year with a knee injury that required surgery, likely will undergo surgery again on the same knee.

“He really battled his way back,” Kiffin said. “(The knee) really started to look really good as he got healthier and healthier. Tough deal on him and the loss of a really good player.”

Wisconsin sophomore quarterback Alex Hornibrook recovered from a dismal first quarter last week, and then receivers dropped three passes in the second quarter. Hornibrook completed 7 of 13 passes for 63 yards and one interception in the first half. He was sacked three times.

He finished 15 of 23 for 244 yards and three touchdowns.

“There are some plays he can be better on, so overall, I liked the way that he saw the game, he made plays and gave guys a chance to make play,” Chryst said. “I think there’s still enough to work on that he’s got to focus on and get a lot better.”

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen knows better than to underestimate a team that’s not in a Power Five conference.

Travelling to play at their place makes the task even tougher.

Mississippi State (1-0) goes on the road to face Louisiana Tech (1-0) on Saturday in a game that should provide a much bigger challenge than its opener, an easy 49-0 victory over FCS opponent Charleston Southern .

Louisiana Tech won its opener 52-24 over Northwestern State last weekend. This will be the 13th meeting between the two programs, but just the second time Louisiana Tech has hosted Mississippi State in Ruston. The other game was in 2008, which Louisiana Tech won 22-14.

That was the year before Mullen came to Mississippi State, but he’s still got plenty of respect for Louisiana Tech, which has won six straight home games dating back to last season.

”They have explosive playmakers,” Mullen said. ”They have some great athletes that they put out there on the field. You can see it not just within the offense but within the return scheme and in the kicking game.

”We are going to have to run the ball and tackle well in open spaces.”

Mississippi State’s running game was very good in the opener against Charleston Southern. The Bulldogs ran for 281 yards in the victory, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Starter Aeris Williams led the team with 83 yards, but young backs like freshman Kylin Hill also performed well.

Mullen said he wasn’t sure of Hill’s role going forward, but it was nice to have depth.

”It’s a long season. Everyone is in different positions,” Mullen said. ”He’s ready to go play physically. The best way to develop him mentally is for him to get actual reps in a game and let him get out there and play some.”

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Some other things to watch when Louisiana Tech hosts Mississippi State on Saturday:

WHAT A DEFENSE: Mississippi State’s defense had an impressive debut last weekend under new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. The Bulldogs earned their first shutout since 2014 against Vanderbilt and allowed just 0.7 yards per play, which set a school record. Charleston Southern never crossed the 50-yard line. Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz was impressed: ”It was as dominating of a defensive performance as I have ever seen in college football.”

FITZ NEEDING HIS FEET: Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald had a solid first game of the season, completing 16 of 29 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. But he ran for just 41 yards and a touchdown, which was a minor surprise considering he ran for more than 1,000 yards a year ago. Expect Fitzgerald to use his speed a little more against Louisiana Tech.

KICKING WOES: Mississippi State’s kicking game has been a bit of a sore spot the past few seasons and last week’s opener was a little shaky, too. Tucker Day made just one of his three field goal attempts. He hit from 40 yards while missing from 32 and 47.

TOUGH STRETCH: Louisiana Tech is playing two teams from the Southeastern Conference in a three-week span. The Bulldogs host Mississippi State on Saturday and then travel to face South Carolina on Sept. 23.

BIG MOMENT FOR TECH: Holtz said Louisiana Tech wants to take advantage of the school’s rare opportunity to host an SEC opponent: ”An SEC team coming into Ruston I know is not an event that happens every year, so it is one we are really excited about and having the opportunity to host such a talented football team with such a great reputation.” The last time Tech hosted an SEC team in Ruston was Mississippi State in 2008.

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Mississippi’s offense looked very familiar during its reasonably comfortable 47-27 win over South Alabama last weekend.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The passing game was awesome: Shea Patterson threw for 429 yards and four touchdowns while receiver A.J. Brown caught eight passes for a school-record 233 yards and two touchdowns.

But the running game was just OK: The Rebels gained 102 yards on the ground, led by D’Vaughn Pennamon’s 34 yards and a touchdown. Ole Miss averaged 3.5 yards per carry.

The imbalance has been a familiar theme for the Ole Miss offense over the past few seasons. New offensive coordinator Phil Longo was brought in during the offseason because of his ability to mix a productive running game with a spread passing offense.

Through one game, the results were mixed.

To be fair, Ole Miss didn’t have to run the ball much against South Alabama because it was piling up such huge numbers through the air. Coach Matt Luke said the Rebels had some good moments running the ball, but also had a ”couple of wasted runs.”

Ole Miss (1-0) has another chance to get the running game going on Saturday when it hosts UT Martin (1-0), an FCS opponent that has a 1-23 record all-time against opponents from the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Luke said improvement in the running game remains a priority.

”When people play to defend our receivers, we have to be able to make our run game a weapon,” Luke said. ”So when people do try to cover us, we can really hurt them in the run game. That’ll be the goal moving forward.”

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Some other things to watch when the Rebels host UT Martin on Saturday:

NOT JUST BROWN: Ole Miss receiver A.J. Brown was the star of last week’s game after breaking the school record with 233 yards receiving, but he wasn’t the only receiver with a big game against South Alabama. D.K. Metcalf caught eight passes for 84 yards after missing the last 10 games of last season with a foot injury. DaMarkus Lodge caught five passes for 51 yards and two touchdowns.

BACK IN ACTION: Linebacker Detric Bing-Dukes and cornerback Ken Webster are expected to play on Saturday after both were suspended for the season opener because of their arrest on shoplifting charges just before preseason camp began. Webster returns after missing almost all of last season with a knee injury.

RARE MISS: Ole Miss kicker Gary Wunderlich made 95.7 percent of his field goals last season, which led the nation. But the senior missed a 45-yard field goal try against South Alabama and also missed an extra point. He’s ranked third in school history with 276 career points – 49 field goals and 129 extra points.

COATNEY’S DEBUT: Ole Miss defensive tackle Josiah Coatney had an impressive debut for the Rebels, making five tackles in his first game, including two for a loss. The 6-foot-4, 302-pound sophomore played at a junior college in 2015 before redshirting in 2016.

THE ONE AND ONLY: UT Martin’s only victory against a team from the FBS came in 2012, when the Skyhawks beat Memphis 20-17. UT Martin is coming off a 36-0 win over Clarion its opener. It was the first shutout for the Skyhawks since 2011. Ole Miss beat UT Martin 76-3 in 2015.

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MOSFILOTI, Cyprus (AP) Michel Platini’s No. 1 fan lives in Cyprus.

The Guinness World Records has made it official.

A Cypriot man who idolizes the French soccer great has clinched two entries in the latest annual book for his stash of photos, jerseys, shoes, balls and more centered on Platini.

The Guinness Book credits Philippos Stavrou Platini, who legally changed his name to add the Frenchman’s surname, with the largest collection of football memorabilia, and the largest collection of sporting memorabilia.

The 40,669 items adorn the ”Museum of Platini” that doubles as a kebab shop in the evenings in this sleepy inland village. The centerpiece is the official UEFA suit Platini wore as president at official functions.

Was the loss ultimately a good thing for the Patriots? Danny Kanell joins Cris Carter, Nick Wright and Jenna Wolfe to explain.

Nick Wright explains why the Patriots are in hot water after their week one loss, saying that only one time in NFL history has a team lost its first game of the season at home and gone on to win the Super Bowl.

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) Army is getting pretty good at exacting payback under coach Jeff Monken.

The list of the vanquished includes Wake Forest, Rice, Fordham, Temple, North Texas, and Navy, all of whom had beaten the Black Knights in the past five years.

Up next is Buffalo on Saturday at Michie Stadium, with the memory of last year’s bitter overtime loss to the Bulls.

”Going into overtime last year like we did and lose was just gut wrenching,” said Monken, in his fourth season at West Point.

Buffalo scored two touchdowns in the final nine minutes of the fourth quarter to force that overtime, getting a reprieve when Army kicker Blake Wilson missed a 34-yard field goal attempt with three seconds left in regulation. The Black Knights were 3-0 before the loss and had not allowed any of its first three opponents to score in the fourth quarter.

”That was a tough loss last year,” Army running back John Trainor said. ”Hopefully, we can learn from our mistakes, get a lot better, and win the game.”

Buffalo began the season last week with a 17-7 loss at Minnesota in a defensive struggle. Neither team scored a touchdown after the first quarter. Meanwhile, Army’s triple option trounced Fordham 64-6 to avenge a two-point loss to the Rams in the season opener two years ago.

The Bulls have two players who can wreak havoc on opponents – 6-foot-7, 245-pound quarterback Tyree Jackson and linebacker Khalil Hodge. Jackson passed for 178 yards and a touchdown and ran for 34 yards and two more scores to lead Buffalo’s comeback against Army last September. Hodge is coming off a season in which he led Buffalo with 123 tackles, the second-highest total since the team joined college football’s top division in 1999. He started this season with a career-high 20 stops against Minnesota.

Army finished 8-5 last season, just its second winning campaign since 1996, and has its sights set on doing better than that this year.

”I don’t know the last time Army football was at a level of confidence in which they’re approaching this week based on their success,” Buffalo coach Lance Leipold said. ”I know last year was a very competitive game, I’m sure one that they felt slipped away. I’m sure that’s going to be in the forefront. It’s not going to be any extra motivation, but it’s there.”

Other things to know when Army hosts Buffalo at Michie Stadium on Saturday:

INSTANT CHEMISTRY

Buffalo WR Anthony Johnson started the season on the same page with his quarterback. A redshirt last season, Johnson had 11 catches for 140 yards and a TD in the opener. Jackson finished 22 of 42 for 211 yards and a score.

TRIPLE OPTION PURRING

Army finished last season ranked second nationally in rushing (339.4 yards per game) and again ranks second in the young season to Georgia Tech after notching 513 yards against Fordham, which included 10 rushes of over 20 yards.

ACHILLES HEEL?

Buffalo had one of the worst run defenses in the country last year. The Bulls ranked 124th out of 128 teams at the FBS level after allowing an average of 253.3 rushing yards per game. In the opener, they allowed 169 yards on 51 carries.

”I feel like as a defense we moved a step in the right direction,” Hodge said. ”We hit our goal for yards per carry (3.3). We know Army’s a heavy run team. This is another great test for us.”

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

Monken’s first win at Army came in the 2014 season opener against Buffalo at Michie Stadium. That victory avenged an overtime loss to the Bulls in 2008. Monken also has a connection to Buffalo – he was coach of the wide receivers and tight ends for the Bulls from 1992-94.

SCORING MACHINE

The 64 points scored against Fordham marked the fourth time the Black Knights have reached 60 points under Monken, and three have come in the past five games at Michie Stadium. The only coach in Army history to have more than four such games was the great Earl ”Red” Blaik, whose teams did it 12 times in his 18-year tenure, the last one a 68-6 win over Colgate in his final season (1958).

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CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians became the hottest team in baseball while on the road.

Cleveland, riding a club-record 15-game winning streak, returns home Friday night for the opener of a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.

Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on SportsTime Ohio

The Indians won all 11 games of their road trip against the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox. Cleveland has outscored opponents 109-28 during the winning streak, while Indians pitchers held the opposition to two runs or fewer in 11 of the 15 games.

“It’s fun, obviously,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “It (was) a productive road trip. Other than that, there are other things hopefully we get caught up in, like our defense being so much better.

“The winning streak is enjoyable and has gotten people’s attention. But other than that, we’ll just go play (our next game). It makes the games a little more fun because people are watching and they care.”

The Orioles are the next team that gets a chance to halt Cleveland’s winning streak. The Indians have pulled away from the pack in the American League Central — they lead the second-place Minnesota Twins by 11 games — and still have a chance to run down Houston for the No. 1 seed in the AL playoffs.

Cleveland (84-56) trails the Astros (86-53) by 2 1/2 games, but the Indians only need to finish in a tie with Houston. Cleveland went 5-1 versus the Astros this year.

“We’re having fun, we’re enjoying the game, but we’ve still got a month to go,” Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor said.

The Orioles (71-69) are just two games behind the Minnesota Twins for the second AL wild card, but the schedule does Baltimore no favors this weekend.

“We’re playing one of, if not the best team in the American League in the next three days,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.

Baltimore recently won seven in a row to climb back into the wild-card race but then lost four of seven at home to the Toronto Blue Jays and the Yankees.

“It’s there for us,” Showalter said. “We’re going to have to have a little help. If you won every game you played, somebody’s got to lose. You control some things, but some things you don’t.”

Both pitchers shined in their past three starts, Miley going 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA, Clevinger 2-0, 2.20.

The same two get a rematch of the Indians’ 6-3 victory over the Orioles on June 22 at Camden Yards. Miley pitched five innings, giving up four runs on eight hits, with three strikeouts and two walks. Clevinger worked five innings, giving up two runs on six hits with four strikeouts and four walks for the win.

In four career starts against Cleveland, Miley is 1-2 with a 5.03 ERA. Clevinger has made two starts in his career against Baltimore, going 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA.

NEW YORK — The Cincinnati Reds watched the New York Mets get a spark from one of their youngsters on Thursday night. The Reds hope to be the ones jump-started by a homegrown prospect Friday, when the two teams play the second game of a four-game series at Citi Field.

Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on FOX Sports Ohio

Reds rookie left-hander Amir Garrett (3-6, 7.41 ERA) is scheduled to make his first major league start in two and a half months when he takes the mound against Mets right-hander Seth Lugo (5-4, 5.00).

The host Mets won the series opener Thursday, when rookie Brandon Nimmo made his second career start in the cleanup spot and produced his first two-homer game in the big leagues in a 7-2 win.

The enthusiasm displayed by Nimmo — who sprints to first base on walks and nearly caught up to teammate Asdrubal Cabrera on his second home run trot — will be welcomed down the stretch by the Mets (61-79), whose hopes of reaching the playoffs for the third straight season vanished thanks to widespread injuries and underperformance. Nimmo was one of five rookies to play for New York on Thursday night.

“I think bringing a positive energy every day kind of just can lift a team a little bit,” Nimmo said. “I just try and be positive and hopefully that positivity will kind of rub off on some of the other guys. For us, in our situation, the best thing we can do is be positive about the rest of the season (and) try and finish strong.”

Garrett will be looking to provide the same boost when he starts for the Reds (61-80) for the first time since June 20, when he took the loss after allowing six runs over 3 2/3 innings in a 6-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Garrett struggled in his final six big league starts (0-4, 12.49 ERA) before being demoted to Triple-A Louisville on June 23, but Reds manager Bryan Price said Garrett has displayed better velocity in recent minor league starts.

“I noticed it in the last three starts,” Price told reporters. “He’s pitching a little bit more off of his fastball and not using such an expanded mix of pitches. We saw him with lesser velocity pitch very effectively, so I don’t think his success is based on his velocity. However, it never hurts to be able to manage a fastball that’s a tick higher.”

Lugo took the loss in his most recent start last Saturday, when he gave up four runs over five innings as the Mets fell to the Houston Astros, 4-1. He is 0-2 with a 6.93 ERA in his last five starts, a stretch in which he has fashioned a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 29/8 but has not completed six innings.

Garrett played two seasons of college basketball at St. John’s, located a few minutes away from Citi Field, before beginning his professional baseball career. But he has never faced the Mets. Lugo has never opposed the Reds.

(STATS) – Montana doesn’t play FBS programs regularly, but when the Grizzlies do, they go big.

The traditional Big Sky power will pay a visit to Washington on Saturday night for only its third FBS game since 2006. The seventh-ranked Huskies were 12-2 and fell to Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinals last season.

While it’s unlikely the unranked Griz will earn their first win against an FBS program since they topped Idaho 41-28 on Sept. 27, 2003, coach Bob Stitt is looking for a strong effort out of his team.

“That’s something that our team can take away from this game,” he said. “If we can compete with the No. 7 team in the country, then definitely at the FCS level, we should be able to line up with anybody and have a chance to win the ballgame.”

Montana is playing its first game against the upper tier of Division I since a 17-12 loss to Wyoming to open the 2014 season. Before that, the Grizzlies’ prior FBS games were against some higher-profile programs – Tennessee in 2011 (a 42-16 loss), Iowa in 2006 (41-7) and Oregon in 2005 (47-41).

Montana also has games scheduled against Oregon in 2019 and Washington in 2021.

The Huskies represent the highest-ranked team the Grizzlies have faced in modern history. The Huskies lead 16-1-1 in the all-time series with all games between 1920 and 1951.

Both teams earned tougher-than-expected wins in their season openers. Montana beat Valparaiso 45-23 behind quarterback Reese Phillips’ four second-half touchdowns passes, while Washington stopped Rutgers 30-14 after struggling in the first half.

“We really don’t want to treat this any differently than any other week,” Stitt said. “You just try to prepare the exact same way and go out and put the same amount of effort into it.”

MOSFILOTI, Cyprus (AP) Michel Platini’s No. 1 fan lives in Cyprus.

The Guinness World Records has made it official.

A Cypriot man who idolizes the French soccer great has clinched two entries in the annual book for his stash of photos, jerseys, shoes, balls and more centered on Platini.

The Guinness Book credits Philippos Stavrou Platini, who legally changed his name to add the Frenchman’s surname, with the largest collection of football memorabilia, and the largest collection of sporting memorabilia.

The 40,669 items adorn the ”Museum of Platini” that doubles as a kebab shop in the evenings in this sleepy inland village.

The shop is plastered with Platini’s image wall-to-wall. There are photos of him as an infant, as a young player sporting a shock of curly hair, and as the middle-aged boss of UEFA.

The centerpiece is the official UEFA suit Platini wore for years as president at official functions. Platini gave the suit to his 55-year-old admirer as a gift in 2010, a year after visiting.

Among Stavrou Platini’s other treasured items are more than a dozen jerseys that the Frenchman signed himself, from his former teams Nancy, St. Etienne, and Juventus, as well as a pair of UEFA banners – one of which is also signed.

A quirky piece of memorabilia that Stavrou Platini keeps locked in a glass encasement along with a Platini-signed 1984 World Cup replica ball is the tea cup and saucer the Frenchman drank during his visit.

”Craziness is a beautiful thing because my craziness gives me life,” Stavrou Platini says. ”I don’t care what anybody says, I’ll be collecting about Platini as long as I’m alive and I hope that my children, my son and daughter, will continue adding to this collection.”

Stavrou Platini’s fascination with the Frenchman began when, as a young soccer player himself, he was given the nickname ”Platini” because he would often stand on the field with his hands on his hips, just like his idol used to.

After three decades and hundreds of thousands of euros spent building the collection, he says he has set his sights on acquiring 50,000 memorabilia items.

A failed bid at the record four years ago served only to strengthen Stavrou Platini’s resolve to become the king of Platini memorabilia.

Platini is suspended from football for four years, for a conflict-of-interest payment of about $2 million from Sepp Blatter, but that hasn’t diminished the Cypriot’s adoration for the former.

Stavros Platini blames Platini’s adversaries.

”Simply, Platini no longer benefited the big guys, it was a huge plot to get rid of Platini,” he says. ”But whether they want to believe it or not, Platini is a soccer legend and will always remain a legend.”

ST. LOUIS — Needing a big road trip to propel themselves back into contention for a playoff spot, the St. Louis Cardinals produced a 7-3 mark against the Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres.

Now they come home to start a season-ending stretch of 22 games against National League Central competition, 13 of them in Busch Stadium, beginning Friday night when the Pittsburgh Pirates visit.

St. Louis (72-68) is three games behind the Colorado Rockies for the NL’s second wild-card spot and five games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the Central. The Cardinals are tied with the Milwaukee Brewers in both races.

“It was a good trip, no question,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “We can’t wait to get home and get right back after it. There’s just a different feel to our team right now, a lot of confidence.”

That confidence has come primarily from young players who are getting their chance to contribute in a playoff race because of injuries to some key starters. The likes of Matt Carpenter (shoulder), Kolten Wong (back), Dexter Fowler (hip) and Tommy Pham (shoulder) all missed games on the West Coast.

However, Harrison Bader, Jose Martinez, Stephen Piscotty and Luke Weaver made their marks. Bader cracked three homers in a five-game span. Martinez drilled two homers Tuesday night at San Diego. Piscotty, hampered by injuries and a regression most of the year, hit with authority throughout the trip. He belted a go-ahead, two-run homer Wednesday night.

Weaver started the trip with a win at Milwaukee and added a victory over Madison Bumgarner in the series finale at San Francisco on Sunday. Weaver (4-1, 2.50 ERA) will try for his fifth consecutive win Friday night.

He has whiffed 29 batters in his past three starts, including nine Giants over seven innings of two-run ball Sunday. Matheny and others around the organization say Weaver has started attacking hitters and not giving them too much credit.

Weaver has faced Pittsburgh twice in his short career, allowing two runs over six innings in two games, one as a starter.

The Pirates (67-74) will send Trevor Williams (6-7, 4.14 ERA) to the mound for his third start against the Cardinals since the All-Star break. Williams got a no-decision in a 5 2/3-inning stint July 16 and ate an 11-10 loss Aug. 18, getting pummeled for eight runs on seven hits and two walks in three innings.

Since then, Williams has allowed only two runs in his last three starts, covering 20 innings. He blanked the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday for seven innings in a 3-1 victory, scattering eight hits and striking out five.

Pittsburgh comes into town off an 8-2 loss Thursday night against the visiting Chicago Cubs. The Pirates missed early scoring chances against veteran lefty Jon Lester and then saw him get stronger as the game progressed, allowing just three hits over six innings.

“You normally want to get guys on and run them into the barrel,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “You have to put some balls into play.”

Pittsburgh could get right fielder Gregory Polanco (hamstring) off the 10-day disabled list for the Friday night game. If Polanco plays, center fielder Andrew McCutchen is likely to get a rest day, his first since Aug. 25.

PORT AUSTIN, Mich. (AP) The conditions seemed ideal: wispy clouds against a blue sky, light wind, temperatures in the high 70s. But two kayakers lasted less than an hour in Lake Huron, making a U-turn back to shore due to choppy waves that couldn’t be easily detected from a marina in northeastern Michigan.

”Better to be safe than to be on the news,” said Jim Schuster, 60, unfastening his life jacket. ”We were taking on water like crazy. We’ll live to paddle another day.”

It was a wise concession that authorities don’t always hear.

Kayaking has boomed in popularity, with sales of the small narrow boats increasing by 55 percent in the U.S. since 2009, according to a trade group. While more people are choosing a relatively inexpensive way of enjoying the outdoors, many aren’t taking the proper precautions, say law enforcers, who are rescuing rookies who underestimate the risks of paddling in big open water like the Great Lakes.

They say they’re finding kayakers with no life jackets or a phone to call for help. Some simply get tired and expect a lift. Others ignore weather that can turn dicey in minutes.

”This fad is big time – not just here in Huron County,” Sheriff Kelly Hanson said while patrolling Lake Huron, the world’s fifth-largest freshwater lake, at the tip of the thumb in mitten-shaped Michigan. ”When the weather’s decent, there could be 300 kayaks out here. … Those boats were not designed for this lake. I’ll argue that with anybody.”

A 22-year-old man without a life jacket drowned in July. Hanson said his deputies and the Port Austin fire department have assisted roughly 70 people this year, including an experienced paddler who was trapped by ice while in the early stages of kayaking the five Great Lakes. The sheriff pledged to seize the Missouri woman’s kayak if she needed help again.

”What? This was March,” said Hanson, who dispatched an airboat to reach her.

The U.S. Coast Guard says 152 people died in the U.S. while using kayaks or canoes in 2016, up from 139 in 2015. The deaths, mostly drownings, represented 22 percent of all U.S. boating-related deaths in both years.

A 21-year-old Pennsylvania man died after storms swamped his kayak Monday on Lake Ontario, near Niagara County, New York. His twin brother and a friend safely made it to shore.

Lake Ontario, another Great Lake, ”will eat you alive,” John Gavenda told WIVB-TV after discovering the two who survived.

Some kayaks cost thousands of dollars, but paddlers don’t have to spend that much to hit the water. Ben’s Great Outdoors, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) west of Lake Huron, sells them for $129.

”A lot of folks can walk into a big-box store, purchase a kayak, get a paddle and be on the water that afternoon without realizing the dangers that are associated with it,” said Mike Baron, a boating safety specialist at the Coast Guard.

Kayaks are easy to tip because they’re light and typically have an open cockpit that can fill with water. The Coast Guard worked with the Water Sports Foundation this year to produce a safety pamphlet to be distributed when a kayak is sold. It says paddlers should wear a life jacket and pack a whistle and phone or VHF radio. ”Have an exit strategy at all times,” the pamphlet advises.

The goal for many kayakers here in Port Austin, 125 miles (201 kilometers) north of Detroit, is to get to Turnip Rock, a towering rock formation with trees near the Lake Huron shore. The 7-mile (11-kilometer) round trip has been widely promoted, even making the cover of Michigan’s 2016 state travel guide.

At Port Austin Kayak, which has more than 100 kayaks for rent, owner Chris Boyle said thousands of people have safely made the trip during his 11 years in business. His staff constantly check the weather and won’t let a kayak leave the shop if winds reach 10 mph.

”I can’t profile people figuring who’s going to make it and who’s not,” Boyle said. ”I think this is the safest place to kayak in the Great Lakes in Michigan. You have warm water. You can follow the coast close to shore. And if a storm comes up, you can get to shore fairly easily and out of danger.”

Hanson, the sheriff, acknowledged the risks are much lower on calm days on Lake Huron. But paddlers, he added, must be vigilant. He installed signs along the shore in time for the Labor Day weekend, advising paddlers to know the weather – and their skills.

Lake Huron has ”capsized or sunk boats and ships up to hundreds of times bigger than a kayak,” Hanson said.

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Follow Ed White at https://twitter.com/edwhiteap

Virginia Tech had a short week to get ready for its home-opener against Delaware, and coach Justin Fuente took his foot off the gas to prepare his 18th-ranked Hokies for the matchup.

Fuente said it’s not really his preference to go easier on his team in a short week, but after the physical nature of their 31-24 victory against West Virginia, it was the prudent approach to take this week.

”The thing is there’s just a little bit less physicalness in practice to get the guys feeling better, get their bodies healed, get their legs back and that sort of stuff,” Fuente said this week. ”We’ll cut back just a little bit out of necessity, not because I want to, but I just feel like that’s the best way to get guys back ready to go.”

Delaware, an FCS squad, will visit Blacksburg, Virginia, in the first meeting of the programs.

The Blue Hens, 22-3 winners against Delaware State in coach Danny Rocco’s debut last week, have faced Atlantic Coast Conference teams in each of the past three seasons. They lost 62-0 to Pittsburgh in 2014, 41-14 to North Carolina in 2015 and 38-21 at Wake Forest last season on their way to a 4-7 record.

Rocco, however, last season led Richmond to a 37-20 victory at Virginia and said while the payday his school receives for playing a Power Five opponent is an important, the players on his team have always enjoyed the chance to see how they measure up against teams in the higher division.

”For me, I think these games are exciting,” Rocco said. ”I think they are fun to prepare for and I know that my student-athletes look forward to playing in these games and we recognize it more as an opportunity,” he said.

After coaching at Liberty for six seasons and Richmond the past five, Rocco is very familiar with the Hokies, and said though their personnel has changed, watching their opener served to confirm what he already suspected.

”They’re athletic on defense, they’re fast and then offensively they look physical,” he said.

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Some other things to watch when Delaware visits Virginia Tech:

ACTION JACKSON: Hokies redshirt freshman quarterback Josh Jackson could hardly have had a better college debut. He threw for 235 yards and a touchdown and ran for 101 yards and another score while avoiding turnovers. Seeing what his does for an encore will surely energize the home crowd and be of interest to Fuente and his staff.

GROUND CONTROL: Besides Jackson, whose rushing yardage came on just 11 carries, Virginia Tech had three running backs carry the ball at least eight times against West Virginia. Deshawn McClease had eight carries for 51 yards and a touchdown, Steven Peoples had 13 carries for 39 yards and Travon McMillian had nine carries for 34 yards and a score. To avoid getting Jackson hit too often, look for the Hokies to utilize their backs more Saturday.

YOUTH MOVEMENT: The Hokies have 11 freshmen or redshirt freshmen on their two-deep depth chart, and Fuente would love an opportunity to get some of them significant playing time if Virginia Tech can get a sizeable lead. He’d probably also love to get backup quarterback AJ Bush, a junior college transfer, some work.

HOMECOMING: Blue Hens defensive coordinator Chris Cosh might not recognize Lane Stadium, which has undergone numerous expansions since he played linebacker for the Hokies from 1977-79, leading them in tackles as a senior.

AVOIDING A REPEAT: The last time Virginia Tech lost to a team from the CAA was 2010 when, in the second week of the season and with a short work week, they fell 21-16 to James Madison. That game was also at Lane Stadium.

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More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25

TV: FOX Sports Florida

TIME: Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET

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ATLANTA — Something will have to give when Miami’s Jose Urena and Atlanta’s Mike Foltynewicz meet on Friday.

Urena (12-6, 3.71 ERA) has feasted against the Braves this season and Foltynewicz (10-11, 4.75) has dominated the Marlins. A streak is likely to end when they oppose each other in the second game of a four-game series at SunTrust Park.

Atlanta won the first game on Thursday, scoring two times in the ninth for a 6-5 win. It was the fifth straight loss for the Marlins, who have dropped 10 of their last 11.

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Urena has been one of Miami’s most consistent starters all season. He went 3-1 with a 3.91 ERA in August and has won three games in each of the last three months. He did not receive a decision in his start on Sept. 3, despite allowing only one run over seven innings against the Phillies.

Urena is an unworldly 8-1 with a 4.36 ERA in 11 road starts this season.

Some of his best success has come against Atlanta. In three starts against the Braves this season, Urena is 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA. He beat the Braves on Aug. 6 in Atlanta, allowing one run on three hits in six innings.

Urena is 1-3 with a 4.58 ERA in eight career appearances, five starts, against the Braves.

The Atlanta players who have had the most success against Urena this season are Ender Inciarte (3-for-9) and Matt Kemp (3-for-5). Freddie Freeman, Atlanta’s leading hitter, is 0-for-4 against Urena. Tyler Flowers has the only Atlanta home run off Urena this season, but he’s on the disabled list.

“(The Phillies) hit a couple of line drives, but there’s nothing you can do about it. I made a little adjustment,” Urena said after his last start. “They tried to make adjustments and we got little ground balls, pop-ups.”

Foltynewicz will be trying to stop a five-game losing streak that has seen his ERA go from 3.94 to 4.75.

He’s coming off a solid start against the Chicago Cubs; he allowed two runs over 6 1/3 innings but still took the loss. His ERA over the last two starts is 2.38, an indication that he has made the adjustments needed to regain his earlier form.

“I think he was back to where he was before those few outings that got away from him,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “I thought he hung in there, kept competing and kept getting back in the strike zone.”

This season against the Marlins, the right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA in three starts. His last start against the Marlins came on Aug. 5 in Atlanta and he allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings, with a career-best 11 strikeouts. That turned out to be his last victory.

Foltynewicz’s success against the Marlins is somewhat surprising given his struggles against some of their better players. Justin Bour (.571, one homer), Christian Yellich (.600) and Dee Gordon (.333) have had success, while Marcell Ozuna (.111) and Giancarlo Stanton (.200) have not hit particularly well, but each has a home run this season against Foltynewicz.

In six career starts against Miami, Foltynewicz is 3-0 with a 4.13 ERA.

The Marlins are expected to get Bour back very soon, perhaps as early as Friday. He has been on the disabled list with a right oblique strain since July 25.

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TIME: Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET

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BOSTON — Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer left his last start after two batters because of tightness in the back of his right arm.

Archer is not going to miss a start, but he has more to worry about than just his physical condition when he faces the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a three-game series at Fenway Park on Friday night.

He is 2-11 with a 5.06 ERA lifetime against the Red Sox — 1-3 with a 6.23 ERA at Fenway — as he and his teammates try to keep the Rays in the hunt for an American League wild card spot.

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Archer faces Drew Pomeranz, who saw his eight-decision winning streak snapped his last time out.

The Tampa players can be forgiven if their minds are on more than just these three games — with Hurricane Irma ready to blast the state of Florida.

“It’s all over national news right now, so we’d be lying if we said we weren’t thinking about it,” Kevin Kiermaier said. “But at the same time, we’re not going to let that affect right now what we have going on the field, especially with our opposition through the end of our season. … We have our work cut out for us, but we’ve just got to keep our focus.”

The Rays, idle Thursday, began the day three games out of a wild card but have four teams ahead of them and are a game under .500 for the season.

The Red Sox lost the opener of their series with the last-place Toronto Blue Jays and were down to their final swings when they tied the game en route to a 19-inning victory Tuesday night. They then cruised to victory Wednesday.

“I think we came out with good energy,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said after Wednesday’s game moved his team to 12-4 on the season against Toronto. “When we run the bases and have success like that, I think there’s energy we draw from that and I think it gives that guy on the mound, the opposition, a lot more to contend with.”

The Red Sox swiped four bases in as many tries against the woeful-throwing Miguel Montero and are 24-1 this season when stealing multiple bases.

The comeback win Tuesday and win Wednesday, coinciding with the New York Yankees blowing a 6-1 lead and losing Tuesday, left the Red Sox four games ahead of New York atop the American League East. Wednesday, the Yankees won 9-1 in Baltimore to bring their deficit back to 3 1/2 games.

Pomeranz is 14-5 with a 3.36 ERA on the season, 11-2 with a 2.78 in his last 20 starts. He is 3-2 with a 3.68 ERA in eight career appearances.

The Red Sox lead the season series 7-6 (4-3 in Boston) as the teams get set to play two straight weekends against each other.

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs have played regular-season night games at Wrigley Field for nearly three decades, but there never was one on a Friday.

That will change when the Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers square off in the opener of a critical three-game weekend series on Friday at 7:05 p.m. CDT.

The Brewers (72-68) seek to make up lost ground after a three-game sweep by the last-place Cincinnati Reds this week. Milwaukee, which led the National League Central by 5 1/2 games at the All-Star break, is now in third place, five games behind Chicago (77-63).

Milwaukee is also three games behind the Colorado Rockies in the race for the second NL wild card.

The Brewers and Cubs still have seven head-to-head games to play, including four at Miller Park from Sept. 21-24.

“I don’t think anybody needs to be pressing or stressing out, or trying to do too much, because we do have a significant amount of games left against the Cubs,” Brewers right-hander Jimmy Nelson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this week. “We control our own destiny. If we go out there and play our game, there are a lot of things that can happen.”

Nelson (11-6, 3.59 ERA) makes his 29th start of the season and third against the Cubs on Friday. Chicago counters with right-hander John Lackey (11-10, 4.74).

Nelson recorded a 1-0 victory and 17th quality start Sept. 1 against the Washington Nationals. He threw seven shutout innings, allowing three hits and three walks. He fanned 11, his sixth double-digit strikeout game this season.

Nelson is 1-6 with a 4.08 ERA in 14 career games (12 starts) against the Cubs, but he is 0-0 with a 6.35 ERA vs. Chicago this season.

Lackey is coming off a similarly dominating performance in his most recent start on Sept. 1. He retired the final 16 batters faced and shut out the Atlanta Braves over seven innings while allowing just three hits and no walks in a 2-0 Cubs win.

“He was really good,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “He was making pitches, his velocity stayed up the whole time. Wasn’t really threatened. When he struck out Freddie (Freeman in the first inning), that really told me a lot because you normally don’t see him look (silly) on any pitch, so I thought, ‘Something’s goin’ on here.”

The Cubs are 9-1 in Lackey’s past 10 starts. The right-hander is 6-1 with a 3.83 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break and 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts against the Brewers this season.

Chicago won’t have right-hander Jake Arrieta available for this series or the near future. He is out for up to two weeks with a right hamstring strain.

The Friday game was originally scheduled for a 1:20 p.m. CT start. The Cubs sought to ease restrictions prohibiting Friday night games, and the Chicago City Council granted a one-time waiver.

The Cubs are allowed 43 night games a season. Maddon has said he would like more.

“We just play way too many day games during the week. We just do,” he said month. “Guys need their rest. When you’re constantly going night-day or day-day-day and it’s hot during the summertime, it matters.”

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessee’s home opener with Indiana State represents a bit of a reunion for the two coaching staffs.

Indiana State coach Curt Mallory was a secondary coach on Tennessee coach Butch Jones’ Central Michigan staff in 2001. More recently, Mallory and three of his assistants worked at Michigan from 2011-14 for Brady Hoke, who is now Tennessee’s defensive line coach .

Sycamores offensive coordinator Jeff Hecklinski, offensive line coach Darrell Funk and defensive line coach Mark Smith worked for Hoke at Ball State and San Diego State as well as Michigan. Indiana State wide receivers coach Roy Roundtree played for Hoke at Michigan. Hoke will be on the opposite sideline from his former assistants Saturday when the 25th-ranked Volunteers (1-0) host Indiana State (0-1).

”In talking about Brady Hoke, there’s not a man in our profession that’s regarded as a higher-character individual,” said Mallory, the son of former Indiana, Miami (Ohio), Colorado and Northern Illinois coach Bill Mallory. ”We all think the world of Coach Hoke and the opportunity he gave us at the University of Michigan.”

Hoke still keeps in touch with the former Michigan assistants at Indiana State. Hoke said he spent some time with them this summer at Mallory’s home.

”There’s a lot of good guys (there) who are really good coaches and even better people,” Hoke said. ”It will be fun to compete.”

Hoke said he talked to Smith briefly on Wednesday and joked that he was the ”enemy” this week.

”We’re not going to talk (again) until maybe right before the game, and then we’re going to compete like heck,” Hoke said.

This game gives Tennessee a chance to try improving a few aspects of its team before opening Southeastern Conference play Sept. 16 at No. 22 Florida.

Tennessee’s receivers need to gain experience as the Vols adjust to life without injured wideout Jauan Jennings, who is out indefinitely . The Vols also must improve their run defense after a season-opening 42-41 double-overtime victory over Georgia Tech in which they yielded 535 yards rushing, the highest single-game total Tennessee has ever allowed.

But it’s the connections between these two coaching staffs that give this game a little more intrigue than a typical matchup between a Top 25 team and a Football Championship Subdivision program.

”He is a very close friend of mine,” Jones said of Mallory. ”We coached together, and I know what he is all about. I know they will bring their `A’ game coming into Neyland Stadium.”

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Some other things to watch Saturday when Tennessee hosts Indiana State.

QUICK TURNAROUND: Tennessee is playing this game just five days after its Monday night marathon with Georgia Tech. With such a short layoff, Tennessee likely will try to rotate as many players as possible in and out of the game. That could be particularly necessary on the defensive line, as Georgia Tech ran 96 offensive plays against the Vols. Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said about ”six or seven” defenders played close to 90 snaps against Georgia Tech.

ON THE RUN: The starting running backs for both teams are coming off big performances. After missing the 2016 season due to injury, Indiana State’s LeMonte Booker bounced back by rushing for 154 yards in a 22-20 loss to Eastern Illinois last week. Tennessee’s John Kelly ran for 128 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries.

GUARANTANO’S DEBUT: Tennessee redshirt freshman quarterback Jarrett Guarantano should have an opportunity to make his college debut. Guarantano lost a preseason competition with Quinten Dormady for the starting spot and didn’t get a chance to play against Georgia Tech, but Jones said both quarterbacks would see action Saturday.

MISSOURI VALLEY MAGIC? Indiana State is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, which has posted at least one win over a Football Bowl Subdivision team each of the last seven seasons. Last year, a Missouri Valley team beat an FBS program on four separate occasions. Indiana State hasn’t beaten an FBS team since defeating Ball State 27-20 in 2014.

AVOIDING INJURY: One of the biggest keys for Tennessee this week is staying as healthy as possible heading into SEC play. The Vols already have lost offensive tackle Chance Hall and linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. to season-ending knee injuries. Jennings’ absence leaves Tennessee without its top returning receiver from last season.

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More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

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Follow Steve Megargee at www.twitter.com/stevemegargee

PARIS (AP) Montpellier fans can have their favorite French team’s jersey replaced after the manufacturer in charge of making the club badge made a clumsy spelling mistake.

The French league club said in a statement on Friday that the manufacturer, whose name has not been revealed, made two sets of logos for the club, including one with an ”L” missing out of the city’s name.

Montpellier, which won the French League title once back in 2012, apologized to its fans, who can either be reimbursed, have the logo replaced on their shirt, or get a new jersey.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The American League wild-card standings tilted heavily in the Minnesota Twins’ favor in the ninth inning Thursday.

A Kansas City Royals victory would have moved them within 1 1/2 games of Minnesota for the second wild-card slot entering the second contest of their four-game series Friday. Kansas City had a 2-1 lead entering the ninth, but the Twins rallied for a 4-2 victory.

“It was a pretty big game,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “It looked like we had everything lined up to win it, but we just didn’t win it.”

Two years ago, the Twins were playing meaningful games in September while competing for a wild-card spot. They were chasing other clubs then, but this season, they are the ones being hunted.

“These are games that should be enjoyable,” Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. “These are the games we work for seven months to try to get in position. So go out and have some fun.”

He pointed out that a few of the Twins were around in 2015 when they were in the race, and a handful more have playoff experience with other clubs.

“With 22 games to go, if you want to say we’re in control because we’re ahead right now,” Molitor said, “I don’t know if that weighs quite as much. It could change tomorrow. We’ll see if we’re still in control the last weekend; that would be good.”

The Twins own a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels in the wild-card standings. The Angels were idle Thursday. Los Angeles, Baltimore, Texas, Kansas City, Tampa Bay and Seattle are all within four games of the Twins.

The Twins will send right-hander Ervin Santana (14-7, 3.35 ERA) to the mound Friday. Santana, a former Royal, is 1-1 with a 4.74 ERA in three starts this season against Kansas City, allowing 12 runs (10 earned) in 19 innings. He is 6-10 with a 4.63 ERA in 24 career appearances against the Royals.

Melky Cabrera is 16-for-44 with two home runs and six RBIs vs. Santana. Eric Hosmer is 10-for-32 with four home runs and 15 RBIs. Mike Moustakas is 5-for-31 with a pair of solo home runs.

The Royals will counter with right-hander Ian Kennedy (4-10, 5.37), who is winless in a club-record 17 consecutive home starts. Kennedy has not won at Kauffman Stadium since Aug. 20, 2016, against the Twins.

Kennedy is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in four starts against the Twins this season. He got a no-decision Sunday at Minnesota. He held a 3-2 lead before an error and a Byron Buxton two-run single in the sixth proved costly.

Kennedy has struggled in 10 starts since the All-Star break, going 1-4 with a 7.03 ERA. He is 4-3 with a 4.30 ERA in 11 career starts vs. the Twins.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The American League wild-card standings tilted heavily in the Minnesota Twins’ favor in the ninth inning Thursday.

A Kansas City Royals victory would have moved them within 1 1/2 games of Minnesota for the second wild-card slot entering the second contest of their four-game series Friday. Kansas City had a 2-1 lead entering the ninth, but the Twins rallied for a 4-2 victory.

“It was a pretty big game,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “It looked like we had everything lined up to win it, but we just didn’t win it.”

Two years ago, the Twins were playing meaningful games in September while competing for a wild-card spot. They were chasing other clubs then; but, this season, they are the ones being hunted.

“These are games that should be enjoyable,” Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. “These are the games we work for seven months to try to get in position. So go out and have some fun.”

He pointed out that a few of the Twins were around in 2015 when they were in the race and a handful more have playoff experience with other clubs.

“With 22 games to go, if you want to say we’re in control because we’re ahead right now,” Molitor said, “I don’t know if that weighs quite as much. It could change tomorrow. We’ll see if we’re still in control the last weekend; that would be good.”

The Twins own a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels in the wild-card standings. The Angels were idle on Thursday. Los Angeles, Baltimore, Texas, Kansas City, Tampa Bay and Seattle are all within four games of the Twins.

The Twins will send right-hander Ervin Santana (14-7, 3.35 ERA) to the mound Friday. Santana, a former Royal, is 1-1 with a 4.74 ERA in three starts this season against Kansas City, allowing 12 runs (10 earned) in 19 innings. He is 6-10 with a 4.63 ERA in 24 career appearances against the Royals.

Melky Cabrera is 16-for-44 with two home runs and six RBI vs. Santana. Eric Hosmer is 10-for-32 with four home runs and 15 RBIs=. Mike Moustakas is 5-for-31 with a pair of solo home runs.

The Royals will counter with right-hander Ian Kennedy (4-10, 5.37), who is winless in a club-record 17 consecutive home starts. Kennedy has not won at Kauffman Stadium since Aug. 20, 2016, against the Twins.

Kennedy is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in four starts against the Twins this season. In his previous start against Minnesota on Sunday, he got a no-decision. He held a 3-2 lead before an error and a Byron Buxton two-run single in the sixth proved costly.

Kennedy has struggled in 10 starts since the All-Star break with a 1-4 record and 7.03 ERA. He is 4-3 with a 4.30 ERA in 11 career starts vs. the Twins.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) Louisville is off to a better start in protecting Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson. That could make things even tougher for North Carolina’s mistake-prone defense to slow the 17th-ranked Cardinals on Saturday.

The Cardinals (1-0) enter their Atlantic Coast Conference opener after allowing no sacks in the season-opening win against Purdue. Jackson thrived with 485 yards of total offense, giving the quarterback a good start in his bid – even if he says it isn’t his focus – to become only the second two-time Heisman winner.

”I was proud about all the other things he did,” coach Bobby Petrino said, ”understanding what coverages there were, there even one time where he checked a protection and we weren’t really in the right protection.

”But he had the right reason to check the protection – they blew the coverage completely. He did the right thing.”

The 35-28 win against Purdue wasn’t perfect, marred by three lost fumbles and 16 penalties for 110 yards. But avoiding sacks after ranking 124th out of 128 Bowl Subdivision programs last year by allowing 47 last year made things easier on Jackson.

”I was just trying to get the ball out of my hand on time and trying to get it to easy targets and make positive plays instead of negative plays,” Jackson said.

Things could come easier against the Tar Heels (0-1), who surrendered 363 yards passing to a first-time starting quarterback during last weekend’s 35-30 home loss to California. The unit also surrendered two touchdowns of at least 50 yards and managed just one sack.

Junior linebacker Andre Smith called Jackson the nation’s best player while also offering confidence that UNC’s defense could slow him.

”We definitely don’t want it to be a Lamar Jackson show,” Smith said. ”So if he’s able to beat us with his arm then – well, he’s not going to beat us at all, I take that back. He’s not going to beat us. We’re just going to stop anything that he tries to do.

”He’s not going to be able to run on us. We have everything solidified with that. And we’re going to cover downfield. If the receivers go up and make a good play . then it is what it is. We’ve got to come back next play and do the same thing.”

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Some other things to know about Saturday’s Louisville-North Carolina game:

QB UNCERTAINTY (AGAIN): UNC coach Larry Fedora won’t commit publicly to a starting quarterback for the second straight week. He went with LSU graduate transfer Brandon Harris against Cal but leaned more on redshirt freshman Chazz Surratt as the game wore on. Expect to see both players again Saturday.

NO ALEXANDER: Louisville cornerback Jaire Alexander is out after injuring his right knee returning a blocked field goal against Purdue. Senior Ronald Walker or freshman Russ Yeast are the likely replacements for the Charlotte native.

HOLD ON: Cardinals coach Bobby Petrino stressing ball protection after last week’s fumbles. That included Lamar Jackson and Reggie Bonnafon losing the ball while trying to stretch for the goal line. ”Sometimes if you’re going down and they can’t see whether you’re down, they’re going to call it a fumble and let the video overturn it,” Petrino said. ”You just can’t do that.”

POCKET CONTAINMENT: UNC coach Larry Fedora said Jackson ”can make you look foolish” with his ability to make big plays through the air or on the ground. One key will be to contain Jackson in the pocket. ”We never want rush lanes in our defense,” defensive coordinator John Papuchis said, ”but obviously we have to be so much more aware this week because so many big plays can happen if your rush lanes break down.”

CARTER’S BOOST: UNC could use another strong performance from freshman tailback Michael Carter, who showed power and burst by running for 94 yards and two touchdowns against Cal. He also had a team-high nine catches for 53 yards.

More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25

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Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap

Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey is certain of one thing – the second game of the season will be a reunion in his football journey.

The Orange’s record-setting junior quarterback is thriving in the uptempo offensive scheme of second-year coach Dino Babers. On Saturday, he’ll face the coach that saw something special in him in high school in Oregon when few others did and lured him across the country to Syracuse. Scott Shafer will be on the opposing sideline in the Carrier Dome when Middle Tennessee visits on Saturday.

Shafer is in his first season as defensive coordinator for the Blue Raiders, who lost their opener at home to Vanderbilt 28-6.

”He’s a genius, so he’s going to come up with something,” Dungey said of Shafer.

Former athletic director Mark Coyle fired Shafer, who won 14 games in three years, with one game left in the 2015 season. But Shafer was allowed to coach his last game at the helm. That game in the Carrier Dome ended in a last-second victory over Boston College, and he was carried off the field by players.

Many of those players are still dressed in Orange, and Babers understands their mindset.

”A lot of these guys are in the room because Scott Shafer recruited them, and that’s a positive,” Babers said. ”Now it’s an opportunity for them to go back, `Hey, you know what? You recruited me, you thought I could do this.”’

Shafer, who also served as Syracuse’s defensive coordinator, seems to be relishing the opportunity.

”He said we would all be best friends for life if we beat Syracuse,” Blue Raiders senior linebacker D.J. Sanders said. ”That’s extra motive for us. It’s may be kind of personal for him, but for us it’s just another game and that’s how we’re going to approach it.”

Other things to know when Syracuse hosts Middle Tennessee on Saturday:

DUNGEY ROLLING

Despite missing almost eight games because of injury in his first two seasons, when he’s been healthy Dungey has been stellar under the guidance of Babers. In last week’s opener against FCS foe Central Connecticut State , Dungey was 37 of 52 with three TDs and finished with 328 yards passing to tie Ryan Nassib for the most 300-yard games in Syracuse history (seven). He also ran for a team-high 51 yards and two more TDs in a 50-7 victory.

”From a quarterback standpoint, it was the best game Dungey has ever played here,” Babers said. ”He was operating at a very high level.”

THE SHAFER FACTOR

Babers knows the Blue Raiders have an advantage with Shafer calling the defensive shots against the team that fired him. He remains confident, nonetheless.

”It’s a huge advantage,” Babers said. ”If you asked me to go back and coach one of my old teams, I’m going to know most players. What he doesn’t know is what’s happened since he left.”

DOWN, NOT OUT

Middle Tennessee was unable to capitalize on the home field advantage last week against an in-state rival that plays in the powerful Southeastern Conference. Forgetting that loss to Vandy is paramount for success against the Orange.

”The response that I wanted was a team that was going to be resilient, not feel sorry for themselves and hang their head, and that’s what I got,” Blue Raiders coach Rick Stockstill said. ”Our players invested a lot in that game, not just in the week prior, but since January when we came back. When you invest that much and you don’t get the reward that you were striving to get, it’s tough.”

DEJA VU

In the loss to Vandy, Middle Tennessee allowed QB Kyle Shurmur to complete 13 of his first 14 passes as the Commodores built an early 21-0 lead. Dungey completed his first 13 passes and the Orange led CCSU 21-0 in the first quarter.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Stockstill’s son, Brent, is Middle Tennessee’s starting quarterback, and he can strike fear into opposing defenses. The left-hander counts junior wideout Richie James as his favorite target. James is the school’s all-time leading receiver (3,083 yards) and has registered at least 100 yards receiving in 11 of his last 15 games.

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More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Alabama and Fresno State are both making big leaps in competition, just in different directions.

The top-ranked Crimson Tide goes from a Top-5 matchup with Florida State back to Bryant-Denny Stadium as 44-point favorites over Fresno State on Saturday.

The Bulldogs, meanwhile, just got through rolling over fledgling FCS program Incarnate Word and now face one of college football’s juggernauts.

Oh my Incarnate Word.

Alabama coach Nick Saban said Fresno State has come a long way since going 1-11 last season. First-year coach Jeff Tedford is a former Fresno State quarterback who led the California program for a decade.

Saban said Tedford is one of the best offensive coaches in the country.

”This is going to be a different kind of challenge for us,” Saban said. ”Something that our players have to respond to because this is a much, much improved team.”

So far, the Bulldogs have only had a 66-0 win over Incarnate Word as evidence, and that program has only been around since starting out in Division II in 2009.

Alabama, meanwhile, topped then-No. 3 Florida State 24-7 in Atlanta.

Linebacker Keith Holcombe said Tide players have watched film from Tedford’s days at Cal.

”We know what kind of offense they are – spread it out, fast, up-tempo -so we’re working on that,” Holcombe said. ”But really, we’re looking at film like that, but we can’t freak ourselves out. We have to settle in and do what we’re capable of doing, making calls, making the right adjustments. We’ve all practiced this in camp leading up to this, so we know what to expect.”

No matter what the oddsmakers say, Saban has never tolerated talk from media of using an apparent mismatch to get young backups experience, but that could be a goal here. Two of Alabama’s top recruits are freshmen Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback and Najee Harris at tailback.

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Some things to watch in the game:

LINEBACKER WHO? Alabama’s going to have to dip into some of its considerable linebacker depth. Christian Miller and Terrell Lewis are both out for the season with injuries. Starters Rashaan Evans and Anfernee Jennings are expected to miss the game also. There are a number of backups with game experience, and a few five-star recruits, to choose from.

TUA TIME: Tagovailoa figures to get his first career snaps if this game goes remotely close to the way most would expect. The five-star recruit from Hawaii enrolled in January and went through spring practices. Tight end Hale Hentges said Tagovailoa had ”a really great camp” and has earned the confidence of both Saban and the team.

”We all see leadership from him that’s uncharacteristic, much like Jalen (Hurts) had last year and still has, that is hard to see from freshmen a lot,” Hentges said. ”Having that and obviously the great passer he is, the great runner and just overall being a field general really instills confidence in him from everyone on the team. So I think he’s absolutely ready.”

MIKE LOCKSLEY: Alabama wide receivers coach Mike Locksley is expected to coach in the game. His 25-year-old son, Meiko, was shot and killed Sunday night in Maryland. ”He said, `It’s helpful for me to be here, it kind of gets my mind off of things,”’ Saban said, adding that funeral services are Monday and he expects Locksley to fly out after the game.

STREAKS: Saban has won 16 consecutive home openers dating back to his tenure at Michigan State, and 65 consecutive games against unranked teams.

NAJEE HARRIS: Harris got a few carries against the Seminoles and could get more with the status of Josh Jacobs remaining uncertain with a hamstring injury. Harrris was the nation’s No. 3 overall prospect according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

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NEW YORK (AP) The arrest of an Estonian man last week for trespassing at the U.S. Open has renewed questions about a practice called courtsiding.

Tennis officials say the man was surreptitiously collecting instant data for gamblers who use online exchanges to bet all on angles of professional tennis matches as they unfold in real time.

He was one of eight people ejected from the New York tournament so far this year because of suspicions of courtsiding.

A private enforcement team called the Tennis Integrity Unit spotted the man during a match featuring No. 13 seed Petra Kvitova.

Experts say courtsiders are trying to get match data to gamblers so fast that it gives them an edge in contests that let them bet on the outcome of the match while it’s in progress.

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) Kosovo coach Albert Bunjaku has resigned after poor results in the team’s first attempt to qualify for a World Cup.

Kosovo Football Federation president Fadil Vokrri said after talks with Bunjaku that they agreed he will leave the post after the end of the qualifiers ”to open the way to a newcomer.”

The team has remaining matches against Ukraine and Iceland next month.

It has only one point in eight matches in Europe Group I, from a 1-1 draw in Finland last year.

Kosovo was accepted by UEFA and FIFA last year, and fast-tracked into 2018 World Cup qualifying.

NEW YORK (AP) The arrest of an Estonian man last week for trespassing at the U.S. Open has renewed questions about a practice called courtsiding.

Tennis officials say the man was surreptitiously collecting instant data for gamblers who use online exchanges to bet all on angles of professional tennis matches as they unfold in real time.

He was one of eight people ejected from the New York tournament so far this year because of suspicions of courtsiding.

A private enforcement team called the Tennis Integrity Unit spotted the man during a match featuring No. 13 seed Petra Kvitova.

Experts say courtsiders are trying to get match data to gamblers so fast that it gives them an edge in contests that let them bet on the outcome of the match while it’s in progress.

Shannon Sharpe breaks down how the Kansas City Chiefs were able to get a huge victory over the New England Patriots

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) Kevin Steele brought Auburn’s bid to make another run at a national championship to an early halt six years ago as Clemson’s defensive coordinator.

Now, he’s hoping to do the same thing again – this time standing on Auburn’s sideline.

Steele been the defensive coordinate at Auburn the past two seasons. He’ll try and slow down No. 3 Clemson’s young, productive offense when the teams meet Saturday night.

It was in 2011, Auburn’s second game of the season, as the reigning national champs when the Tigers played at Clemson – which was coming off a losing season. But without Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, Auburn struggled on offense in Clemson’s surprise 38-24 win.

Steele’s defense held Auburn to 10 points the final three quarters to end that team’s 17-game win streak.

Now, Steele’s locked in to slowing Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant , the successor to two-time Heisman finalist Deshaun Watson. Clemson put up 665 yards – 313 of them by Bryant – in a 56-3 victory over Kent State last week.

”Obviously their old quarterback was a first-round draft pick and one of the best to play in modern times,” Steele said. ”But their quarterback (now) is a very good football player and has a bright future in this game.”

No. 13 Auburn defense held Georgia Southern to a touchdown in a 41-7 opening-game victory.

Steele led Clemson’s defense from 2009-2011, helping the Tigers win their first Atlantic Coast Conference title in 20 years his final year. But Clemson was routed by West Virginia, 70-33, in the Orange Bowl that season and coach Dabo Swinney let Steele go shortly after.

”This has nothing to do with me or coach Steele,” Swinney said of the matchup. ”It’s all about the guys on the field. He’s done a great job. He did a great job here for us.”

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Some other things to watch for when Auburn faces Clemson:

NEW AUBURN QB: Auburn has a new starting quarterback, too, in Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham . Stidham passed for two TDs and ran for another in the Tigers’ win. He completed 14 of 24 passes for 185. Stidham understands the challenge this week and that he must take a step forward. ”I was thrilled to be back out there,” he said. ”I’ve got to get a lot better personally and as an offense collectively.”

IRMA WATCH: Any projections for Hurricane Irma in the state of South Carolina are for early next week. Clemson said in a statement it was monitoring the situation and work with authorities if any action was required. Two years ago, Clemson defatted Notre Dame 24-22 in the face of a historic rainstorm that led to catastrophic flooding throughout much of the state.

NO TOE WORRIES: Clemson’s massive defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence showed no ill effects from offseason toe surgery, playing a unit high 23 snaps in last Saturday’s win. Lawrence, 6-foot-4 and 340 pounds, said the toe has not given him much problems and he expects to play all game against Auburn.

STREAKY SERIES: Clemson has won the past three from Auburn, including a 19-13 victory there to start last season where Auburn was throwing into the end zone for a potential winning score last week. Before Clemson’s recent run, Auburn has won 14 in a row stretching from 1951 to 2010.

JOHNSON’S STATUS: Auburn tailback Kerryon Johnson suffered an apparent leg injury against Georgia Southern and did not practice this past Sunday. Tigers coach Gus Malzahn was ”hopeful” that Johnson would be able to play against Clemson. Kamryn Pettway returns for Auburn after serving a one-game suspension during the win over Georgia Southern.

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) A September nonconference game on the campus of a team that went 4-8 the previous season has surely never before drawn this amount of interest from Georgia fans.

Such is the power of Notre Dame. No matter the condition of Fighting Irish, the chance to see Touchdown Jesus signal a score in person will always be a big deal for college football fans.

The first-regular season meeting between Georgia and Notre Dame on Saturday night is the most-anticipated road trip the Bulldogs have made in decades.

”This has been the most difficult ticket I have seen during my years at UGA,” said associated athletic director Claude Felton, who has been with the University of Georgia sports information department since 1979. ”There are large numbers of Bulldog supporters heading to South Bend with no tickets. They just want to be part of the experience.”

Georgia received – and quickly sold – 8,000 tickets for the game at Notre Dame Stadium. Secondary market ticket prices were in the $1,600 range during August, though fans that waited it out could have snagged a nose-bleed seat Thursday for $500 on StubHub.

The red and black of Georgia started pouring into South Bend on Thursday, and Bulldogs fans were making their presence felt. At the restaurant in which Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly does his weekly radio show, he was greeted by dozens of Georgia fans, Calling the Dawgs .

”We know there’s going be some black and some red in the stands, we get that,” Kelly said.

Some of the out-of-towners were trying to turn the weekend into a sports bucket-list marathon, catching a Cubs game at Wrigley on Friday and the Atlanta Falcons – fortuitously enough – at Soldier Field against the Bears on Sunday. South Bend is about 95 miles from Chicago.

”I know our fan base is really excited. Our team is excited,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. ”I mean it will be the first team ever from Georgia to get to go to South Bend and play and we are excited for that opportunity.”

As an event, No. 15 Georgia (1-0) vs. No. 24 Notre Dame (1-0) is a rare opportunity for Bulldogs fans. As far as the game goes, however, it is far more important for the home team. Coming off last season’s flop, and the ensuing offseason overhaul of the program by Kelly, the Irish could use an early statement victory to settle everybody’s nerves, quell the message board calls for a coaching change and take a big step toward burying bitter memories of 2016.

Just don’t call it a validation game. Kelly is having none of that.

”We’ve got a long way to go. Our football team will continue to grow. Will continue to work toward the things that we’ve asked them to work towards. We’re only in our second game. I like what I saw in our first game. There’s no question we expect to win the game,” Kelly said.

Things to know about the first meeting of Georgia and Notre Dame since the Bulldogs beat the Irish in the 1981 Sugar Bowl to win the national title:

NEW KID

Not the ideal spot for a freshman quarterback to make his first start, but that’s what lies ahead for Jake Fromm of Georgia. He played well last week in a home rout of Appalachian State after relieving the injured Jacob Eason (knee). Fromm is a Georgia native and a natural leader.

”If you guys knew how well this guy prepares, as a student of the game, even in the summertime in seven-on-seven,” Georgia linebacker Davin Bellamy said. ”The guy is the real deal.”

RUNNING MEN

Notre Dame had three 100-yard rushers last week in an easy victory against Temple, including quarterback Brandon Wimbush, a junior making his first start. Georgia got a combined 183 yards rushing and three touchdowns from the running back duo of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.

RANKED GAME ISSUES

Kelly is 7-11 at Notre Dame when both teams are ranked, and the Irish have lost six of their last eight games against ranked foes.

PASS ON THE TRASH

While some Bulldogs players sounded psyched to play at a tradition-rich program such as Notre Dame, Georgia safety Dominick Sanders was unimpressed. Sanders told reporters earlier in the week that his only concern was ”punishing” the Fighting Irish from the start. A few Notre Dame players got a chance to fire back, but passed.

”You know, it’s just one of those things that they can say what they want to say, and we’ll just stick to what we’re doing,” Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey said.

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Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP

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NEW YORK (AP) The arrest of an Estonian man last week for trespassing at the U.S. Open has renewed questions about ”courtsiding,” the surreptitious collection of instant data for gamblers using online exchanges to bet on all angles of professional tennis matches as they unfold in real time.

A private enforcement team called the Tennis Integrity Unit spotted the man, identified as Rainer Piirimets, in the upper reaches of Arthur Ashe Stadium during a match featuring No. 13 seed Petra Kvitova. Police arrested him on charges he violated a written notice to stay away from the U.S. Open grounds after the unit caught him courtsiding there last year.

The courtsiding suspect wasn’t alone: Tennis officials say at least seven other people were kicked out for transmitting results at this year’s tournament.

Here’s a look at the cat-and-mouse betting game within the game of tennis:

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CATCHING COURTSIDERS

Little is known about the 33-year-old Piirimets or who employed him. Court papers list his address as a Quality Inn in Queens, where attempts to reach him were unsuccessful. And a public defender’s office representing him didn’t respond to messages seeking information about him.

The suspect fits the profile for U.S. Open courtsiders in one way: He’s a foreigner. Of the 19 other suspected courtsiders kicked out of the Open and given a 20-year ban last year, four were from Britain, four from Spain, three from Russia, three from France, two from Italy and one from Sri Lanka.

The integrity unit won’t talk about its techniques for catching them. But it’s believed they rely on photos of known offenders and can scan the grounds with closed circuit cameras for suspicious activity.

The arrest of a British man named Daniel Dobson at the 2014 Australian Open offered insight into one trick of the trade: Authorities claimed he had a special device concealed in his shorts that allowed him to instantaneously relay the result of each point without looking away from a match in progress.

It’s a fun way to make a living, said Brad Hutchins, a former courtsider from Australia and author of ”Game Set Cash! Inside the Secret World of International Tennis Trading.”

”The job is amazing,” he said in an email. ”Traveling the world watching live sport is a dream job. We’re all aware it skirts a grey area but the trade off of dodging security was worth it.”

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THE BETTING

Experts say courtsiders are trying to get match data to gamblers so fast that it gives them an edge in contests that let them bet on aspects of a match while it is in progress.

Even though many matches in a tournament are on television, courtsiders try to take advantage of short delays in the live video feeds. They are also trying to enter data on the outcome of points faster than the umpires, who feed them into computers that transmit around the world. Getting the results first, even by a few seconds, can give bettors an edge over others looking at odds based on the previous point.

On betting sites, gamblers place bets on who will win the overall match or individual games. There are also bets on whether the next game will go to deuce, on how many games will be played in a set and on how many games an individual player will win.

Some bets are even placed on the outcome of the next point in an ongong match. For those wagers, one betting site cautions, ”You have to move quickly.”

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THE CONSEQUENCES

U.S. Open tournament director David Brewer has said banning courtsiders protects the sport’s integrity because it’s a ”logical conclusion” that it could be related to the more serious issue of match-fixing.

”Where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” he said.

But others argue that the activity itself is harmless and that the enforcement has its roots in a decision by the men’s and women’s tours to sell exclusive rights to their scores to media data firms with clients that include large overseas betting exchanges.

Courtsiding became ”a lot more regulated” since tennis made the deal, Hutchins said.

”The fact is obvious to courtsiders that they’re protecting their monetary interests over the integrity of the sport because security went through the room after the contract went through,” he said.

The company employing the courtsider arrested at the Australian Open argued he shouldn’t have been charged with a crime because nothing he did affected the outcome of the match. It also claimed ”it has never been and never will be involved in illegal betting or any other illegal activity whatsoever.”

In the end, the charges were dropped.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) When Arkansas coach Bret Bielema made the decision to switch to a 3-4 defense following last season, he did so with the idea of getting his best athletes on the field more often.

Bielema also did so with the hope of slowing someone exactly like TCU quarterback Kenny Hill, who the Razorbacks (1-0) will face for a third time when they host the No. 23 Horned Frogs (1-0) on Saturday.

Hill first played against Arkansas while with Texas A&M in 2014, leading the Aggies to a victory. He was at this best a year ago, decimating the Razorbacks defense while accounting for nearly 500 yards of total offense.

Arkansas won that game 41-38 in double overtime, thanks to a breakout quarterback performance of its own from Austin Allen.

This time around, Bielema would prefer not having to rely on Allen so heavily to defeat their former Southwest Conference rival.

”The fact that we’ve changed schemes will hopefully allow our guys to line up at a little better pace,” Bielema said. ”We know they love to go tempo, and they’ll go as fast as they possible can.”

Arkansas was one of the worst defenses in the country a year ago, allowing an average of 6.75 yards per play and 39 rushing touchdowns – both worst in the Southeastern Conference. The Razorbacks weren’t challenged defensively in an opening 49-7 win over Florida A&M, but Saturday is expected to be another story entirely.

Hill threw for 206 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s 63-0 win over Jackson State , two of which were to Desmon White. The Horned Frogs gained 542 yards of total offense in the win, but TCU coach Gary Patterson expects a better challenge this week against Arkansas.

”They have guys that can run around on defense,” Patterson said. ”They like it for the people they’ll get to play as far as far as lot of the passing groups … They have good players to go along with it.”

Some things to watch as Arkansas tries to sweep the home-and-home series with the Horned Frogs:

PULLEY OUT

One area of Arkansas’ new-look defense that could be problematic is the secondary. Starting cornerback Ryan Pulley is out for what Bielema said is a ”significant” amount of time after surgery following a pectoral muscle injury he suffered in last week’s win. Pulley led the Razorbacks with 13 pass breakups last season.

HICKS’ RETURN

Patterson said he’d be very surprised if running back Kyle Hicks doesn’t play. The senior, who led the Horned Frogs in rushing and receptions last season, missed last week’s opener with a leg issue.

”We have to be smart about it, take care of him,” Patterson said. ”It’s a long season and we’re short (on) running backs.”

FABULOUS FRESHMAN

Arkansas received a backfield boost in its opener from talented freshman Chase Hayden. The 18-year-old son of former Tennessee running back Aaron Hayden led the Razorbacks with 120 yards rushing on 14 carries – giving them another rushing option to go with lead back Devwah Whaley and former South Carolina transfer David Williams.

FANTASTIC FROGS

TCU’s defense allowed only 65 yards of total offense last week while posting its first shutout since 2014. The Horned Frogs also scored twice on defense, with Ridwan Issahaku returning an interception 53 yards for a touchdown and Arico Evans returning a fumble 32 yards for a score.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Arkansas will play at home despite an ongoing $160 million renovation to Razorback Stadium. The project, which will increase the stadium’s capacity to more than 75,000, is expected to be completed by the beginning of next season. Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long said construction will be halted during games, and Bielema said the stadium has already seen an increase in volume thanks to the north end zone being enclosed by the new construction.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield clearly recalls the blowout in Norman when Ohio State came to town a year ago. The young Buckeyes dominated, quieting the home crowd in a 45-24 thumping of the Sooners.

Oklahoma didn’t lose a game after that, reeling off 11 straight victories. On Saturday night the No. 5 Sooners visit Columbus to face No. 2 Ohio State. While Mayfield and his teammates downplay the revenge factor, they haven’t forgotten the humiliation of last year’s meeting. They remember the ”embarrassing” spectacle of Buckeyes players singing the Ohio State school song on their turf.

”Everybody who was here for last year’s huge loss definitely remembers that,” he said.

Mayfield, who threw two interceptions, accepted much of the blame.

”I think it was a huge learning curve for me, losing that game and watching the film and realizing I didn’t play well at all,” he said. ”Yeah, we had some good plays and we wound up scoring 20-plus points on a good team. But obviously we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, and a huge part of that was on me.”

Offensive tackle Orlando Brown said the team is trying to keep the focus on this year’s game, but the distasteful memory lingers.

”As far as last year, there are certain things that do stick with us,” he said. ”But right now, we’re really focused on this year’s record and doing what we have to do to go win every week and go undefeated, if that’s possible.”

Here are some other things to watch Saturday night:

NEW FACES

Offensively, Oklahoma is not the same team, despite the rock solid presence of Mayfield and Brown. Thousand-yard rushers Joe Mixon and Samaje Perrine are gone, as is Mayfield’s favorite target, Dede Westbrook, who accounted for 1,524 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns last year.

Abdul Adams leads a group of young running backs who will try to pick up the slack, and tight end Mark Andrews hauled in seven passes for 134 yards and a touchdown against UTEP last week. He’s going to catch a ton of Mayfield passes this year.

On Ohio State’s side, quarterback J.T. Barrett’s top three receivers in last year’s Oklahoma game have moved on, including Noah Brown, who caught four TD passes against the Sooners.

TWO-HEADED RB

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said last year’s 1,000-yard rusher Mike Weber is 100 percent and will play in Saturday’s game. True freshman J.K. Dobbins will start, but look for him to split time with Weber.

Weber was slowed by a hamstring injury throughout preseason camp. Meyer said Weber could have played in the opener against Indiana, but his presence wasn’t required as Dobbins staged his coming-out party by rushing for 182 yards on 29 carries.

The questions are how Meyer will handle the rotation and whether Weber will have extra motivation to show that he deserves the job.

EARLY TEST

Meyer said he’s glad Ohio State started the season with a tougher test last week on the road against Indiana instead of the usual opening-day blowout against an overmatched team. That should pay dividends in Saturday’s much more challenging matchup with Oklahoma, he said.

The Buckeyes’ offense started slow against the Hoosiers, trailed 14-13 at halftime and didn’t get on track until midway through the third quarter. The defense in the first half had trouble covering Indiana’s receivers until clamping down later in the game, which the Buckeyes won 49-21.

”I think to beat a team 70-0 right now is not what we need,” Meyer said afterward. Oklahoma, meanwhile, was barely tested in a 56-7 home win over UTEP .

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(STATS) – In the wake of last year’s disastrous season opener, Nick DeLuca felt a little lost as his thoughts turned to how the grand plans he had made for his senior year were squashed so quickly.

“You just start to think, ‘now what do I do?” the North Dakota State linebacker reflected.

Coming off a sensational 2015 season in which he earned All-MVFC first-team honors, DeLuca had designs on helping lead the Bison to a sixth straight national championship. Instead, the heart-and-soul of the team’s defense could only watch the final 11 games because of a torn labrum he suffered at the Fargodome.

With a second chance at a senior season, DeLuca was eased back into action in the season opener against Mississippi Valley State. Now he’s ready to play in a full game for the first time in almost a year Saturday when the second-ranked Bison visit No. 7 Eastern Washington.

“I’ve been fully cleared,” he insisted. “(The shoulder) feels a lot stronger than it did before, so I’m definitely ready to go.”

On Aug. 27, 2016, the NDSU captain knew something was seriously wrong the second he hit the ground when he tried to make a diving play in the third quarter against Charleston Southern. His arm went numb and he could barely move it.

DeLuca said Bison coach Chris Klieman helped ease his mind by adopting a plan for him to play in the fewest number of games allowed last season while still remaining eligible to receive an additional year due to hardship.

While the prognosis on his shoulder wasn’t promising, DeLuca displayed his toughness by not only playing in the next two games – but playing well. With his shoulder in a brace, he finished with 15 tackles and had a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 50-44 overtime win over EWU before recording eight tackles in a 23-21 victory at 11th-ranked FBS foe Iowa.

DeLuca didn’t play another down after the stunning win over the Hawkeyes, undergoing surgery to repair his labrum a week later. Without him, the NDSU’s incredible run of titles came to an end in a 27-17 semifinal loss to eventual champ James Madison.

“He’s a physical presence inside at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds and he can run as well as anyone,” defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Matt Entz said. “It was that physical play and leadership that we missed a lot last year.”

“Frustration sets in when you invest a lot of time and effort and envision your senior year going a certain way and then it’s taken away from you,” he added. “But he’s become a better leader and he has that personal experience of knowing you have to make every snap count. He’s grown up because of the injury.”

DeLuca filled his desire to stay in the game by mentally preparing each week as if he was going to suit up. That often led him to find a seat next to his replacement, Matt Plank, to make sure they both were seeing things the same way.

Through his experience, DeLuca learned some things not only about the game – but himself as well. He discovered a love of coaching, something he eventually hopes to do after completing his work toward a degree in university studies in December.

“I had to take a step back and see things from a different perspective,” he said. “I’d say the injury opened a new door for me and I found my passion.”

In his first game action since Sept. 17, 2016, DeLuca only played around 15-20 snaps by design last weekend in a 72-7 win over Mississippi Valley State. Entz confirmed DeLuca will have no restrictions Saturday in what should be a difficult road test against the Eagles.

“It was fun to come full circle (in the opener),” DeLuca said. “After spring ball and practices, it’s fun to be able to hit other players for a change.”

TEMPE, Ariz. — If not for the Detroit Lions, David Johnson would not be the dynamic, game-changing running back he is for the Arizona Cardinals.

He’d be plying his considerable skills elsewhere.

Now Johnson, entering just his third NFL season, will be facing the Lions when Arizona opens its season in Detroit on Sunday.

On the cover of the Sports Illustrated NFL preview edition, Johnson is no longer an under-the-radar rising star.

“I think he’s the best player in the National Football League,” teammate Larry Fitzgerald said. “I think for the next 17 weeks, and hopefully moving forward, everybody that we play will have to feel his wrath.”

Johnson, who led the NFL in yards from scrimmage and touchdowns last season, considers himself the best running back in the game.

“I feel like you wouldn’t be able to compete at a high level if you didn’t think you were the best,” he said.

And only a decision by the Lions in the 2015 draft cleared the way for Johnson to come to the Cardinals.

In the second round, Arizona had the 55th pick overall and was preparing to select running back Ameer Abdullah.

As chronicled in last year’s “All or Nothing” documentary on Arizona’s 2015 season, the Cardinals even were on the phone with Abdullah. But, just ahead of them at pick No. 54, the Lions grabbed Abdullah.

They made a trade down with their second-round pick and grabbed outside linebacker Markus Golden at pick No. 58. Golden led the Cardinals in sacks with 12 last season.

Then in the third round, still needing a running back, they chose Johnson out of FCS school Northern Iowa with the 86th selection overall.

Johnson said he didn’t know anything about how all that transpired until he watched “All or Nothing.”

“It’s definitely crazy how things work out,” he said. “Me and Markus talk about that all the time, how different our lives would have been if Ameer had come here.”

In the 2015 season-opener against New Orleans, the first time he touched the ball, he caught a pass from Carson Palmer and went 55 yards for a touchdown. The next week at Chicago, he returned a kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown, the longest play in franchise history and tied for second-longest ever in the NFL. He added a 13-yard TD catch against the Bears.

“Throughout camp that year, before I got injured (a hamstring), I felt like I was able to put my talents out there and felt like I was able to play and be a good player in the league,” he said. “But once I did have that kick return and also the Saints game a few plays I did get in, I felt like I definitely was in the right spot.”

Last season, Johnson became the first player in NFL history to top 100 yards from scrimmage in each of the first 15 games of the season. He probably would have made it 16 had he not injured his knee in the season finale in Los Angeles.

His 15 games of 100 yards from scrimmage in a season tied the NFL record held by Barry Sanders.

Johnson’s goal this season is 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving, something accomplished only by Faulk and Roger Craig.

He came close last season with 1,239 yards rushing and 879 yards receiving and believes he would have done it if not for that last-game injury or some messed up route running during the year.

Johnson has scored 33 touchdowns in 32 games played. No wonder he is just about everybody’s No. 1 fantasy pick.

The Cardinals virtually kept Johnson in bubble wrap this preseason. He played only 11 snaps, carrying the ball six times for 19 yards and catching one pass for nine yards.

He is raring to go.

“I don’t think I have any rust,” Johnson said. “I’m very anxious, man. I’ve been scratching my nails. I’m so excited to come out and play and I’ve been very antsy, counting the days on the calendar, counting the minutes when we finally get to actually play in a game that was very important.”

And, by the way, Abdullah will be carrying the ball for the Lions.

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MOSCOW (AP) Russia’s only reigning athletics world champion says the country isn’t moving fast enough with reforms that could see its doping ban lifted.

High jumper Maria Lasitskene accuses Russian officials of dragging their feet, saying ”unfortunately there hasn’t been any visible progress in two years” toward reinstatement, in comments to Russian news agencies.

Russia has been barred from international track and field since November 2015, when a World Anti-Doping Agency investigation alleged widespread drug use and official cover-ups.

A few dozen Russians, including Lasitskene, have been allowed to compete as neutrals after applying to the IAAF with details of their drug-testing history.

When Lasitskene won world championship gold in London last month, the Russian flag wasn’t displayed and the IAAF anthem was played.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) Rutgers took a major step in its rebuilding under Chris Ash when it showed it could be competitive against a nationally ranked team last week.

With 10 straight losses in a row over the last two seasons, the Scarlet Knights need to take the next step.

They have to start winning, and they’ll get that chance Saturday when they play host to Eastern Michigan (1-0) of the Mid-America Conference at High Point Solutions Stadium.

Rutgers surprised a lot of people with a tough performance in a 30-14 loss to then-No. 8 Washington in the season opener at home last week. The Huskies, who returned a lot of players from a team that won the Pac-12 and made the college football playoffs, went to the locker with a 10-7 lead after the Scarlet Knights missed a field goal just before halftime.

”I feel like we have a chip on our shoulder,” said Rutgers quarterback Kyle Bolin. ”It’s been a long time since this program has gotten a win, and the fact that we were so competitive with such a great program last week just puts even a bigger chip on our shoulder. Eastern Michigan is a great team and I’m sure that we’ll see their best, but in terms of Rutgers football, I feel like we have a lot to prove as well, so we’re preparing this week like it’s our Super Bowl.”

Eastern Michigan is coming off a 24-7 win over Charlotte, the fewest points the Eagles have given up in an opener since 2008.

Eagles coach Chris Creighton was impressed watching the videotape of the Scarlet Knights against Washington.

”It was frightening how fast and physical they were in all three phases of the game,” said Creighton, who picked up his 150th career win last week. ”(They’re) definitely trying to put a stake in the ground and create an identity and prove a point.”

Here are some things to watch in the second meeting between the schools:

TRANSFER INFLUENCE:

Rutgers got big games from three transfers. Bolin, a Louisville transfer, was 24 of 34 for 178 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Gus Edwards rushed for 79 yards on 24 carries, while fellow Miami transfer Jerome Washington caught six passes for 36 yards.

SPREADING THE BALL:

Eastern Michigan quarterback Brogan Roback hit 22 of 31 for 267 yards, finding 10 different receivers. Sergio Bailey II led the receivers with five catches for 78 yards. Roback’s 6,030 yards passing and 38 TD passes rank third in school history.

EXTRA POINTS:

Rutgers beat Eastern Michigan 28-10 in their only other meeting in 2013. … The Scarlet Knights are 12-3-1 against MAC schools. The Eagles have never beaten a Big Ten Conference team in 38 tries and they are 0-58 against Power 5 institutions. … Eastern Michigan is looking for its first 2-0 start since 2011. … This is the second of three straight home games for Rutgers. … Eastern Michigan intercepted three passes last week, its most in a game since the season opener in 2008.

DRAKE FACTOR: Creighton and Ash have a connection in Drake University. Creighton ran the Bulldogs from 2008-13. Ash played at the Iowa school from 1992-95, and then served as a graduate assistant and then defensive coordinator from 1997-99. The two met this summer at football camps. ”I’m just very impressed with him,” Creighton said of Ash, who was 2-10 in his first season at Rutgers. ”He absolutely has a plan and knows what the plan is and is going to see that that plan comes to fruition.”

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Senior running back Jayden Day is 'a special human being'

DENVER (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers’ game against the Denver Broncos on Monday night presents landmarks on the football field, along the sidelines and in the broadcast booth.

Not since 1960 have the Chargers represented L.A., where they played their inaugural season before bolting to San Diego. They headed back up Interstate 5 this offseason, extending Philip Rivers’ daily commute.

Not in 30 years has a woman called a regular-season NFL game as Beth Mowins will when she handles play-by-play duties for the doubleheader nightcap alongside Rex Ryan, who will make his debut as an ESPN analyst.

And never before have two black head coaches made their NFL debut against each other in the same game, as Anthony Lynn of the Chargers and Vance Joseph of the Broncos will for the 10:20 p.m. ET kickoff.

The longtime friends and onetime neighbors are the first black head coaches for their respective teams, and two of eight head coaches of color this season, which matches the 2011 season for the most in league history.

“It’s obviously a special thing on a big picture,” Joseph said. “Hopefully in four and five years it won’t even be an issue. It would just be two coaches going at it.”

Mowins feels the same way about being the first woman to call an NFL game since NBC’s Gayle Sierens in 1987.

“I don’t worry too much about any place in history,” she said. “I’ll let other people handle that. My focus is on the day to day and while I know it’s new to everybody else, it’s not new to me. I’ve been calling `Monday Night Football’ games for my family sitting in the living room for decades. So, hopefully I can be just as entertaining in the booth as I have been at home.”

Now, back to the game and its swarm of subplots:

REAL McCOY : Lynn replaced Mike McCoy, who landed in Denver for his second stint as Denver’s offensive coordinator and is glad to be calling plays — if not the shots — once again.

“I’ve got a burning desire to call plays,” said McCoy, who’s now designing game plans for Trevor Siemian, who beat out 2016 first-round pick Paxton Lynch again this summer. Siemian’s backup is Brock Osweiler , who returned to Denver last week after an 18-month odyssey through Houston and Cleveland.

GRATING THE QBS : Von Miller is the league’s top pass rusher, but with Shane Ray on IR with a wrist injury and Shaq Barrett still working his way back from an injured hip, the Broncos don’t have quite the pass-rushing duos the rest of the AFC West sports, including the Chargers with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.

“Ingram’s a great player, he’s a veteran, very similar to Von. But Von’s the best of the best and I got to see him in practice” every day, Broncos rookie left tackle Garett Bolles said. “I’ve been going against Von and Shane Ray in OTAs, then we have Shaq back, so I have the best defense in the whole National Football League right here in my locker room. I’m going to be ready because I go against them every day.”

DEEP DIVISION : The AFC West appears to be the toughest division in the league top to bottom. The Chargers are coming off a 5-11 cellar season that included nine losses by eight points or less.

“This is probably the most talented Chargers team that I’ve played against. The defense is a whole lot better and the offense is a whole lot better,” Miller said as he rattled off their many attributes. “I guess the move from San Diego to L.A. really helped out.”

SWAPPING SPOTS : Russell Okung has gone from being Denver’s left tackle to protecting Rivers’ blindside.

“Russell’s just a pro’s pro,” Lynn said. “He’s a very good tackle. He’s athletic, he’s physical and he has great intangibles. He’s been a big plus for our locker room.”

Okung was battling injuries and didn’t have a great season in Denver last year.

“He looks healthy on film,” said Miller, “and he looks like the early Russell Okung that was at the Seattle Seahawks that had a lot of great plays and a lot of great years.”

HUNGRY WOLFE : Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe returned from a severely sprained right ankle in half the six weeks that doctors expected. He said he’s 100 percent and showed off an ankle Thursday that had no residual swelling or discoloration — in stark contrast to the puffy, purple ankle he showed on Twitter after getting hurt.

Wolfe said he thought he broke his leg and would miss the season. When told otherwise, “I was shocked. I couldn’t wiggle my toes for three days.” Wolfe also revealed he played last season with two injured disks in his neck which he hurt on opening night. That resulted in weakness on his left side and ultimately a right elbow injury that sidelined him for three games.

“I’m 100 percent” now, declared Wolfe.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) If West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen needs some alone time, all he has to do is put on a headset.

Holgorsen relinquished offensive play-calling duties this season for the first time since becoming a head coach in 2011. That left him in a bit of a quandary in the season opener and he’s sure to be talking to himself again on Saturday when West Virginia (0-1) meets East Carolina (0-1).

At least early on against Virginia Tech, Holgorsen remained in silent mode on his headset as first-year offensive coordinator Jake Spavital steered the offense and Tony Gibson the defense.

While Holgorsen didn’t have his talk button engaged, he could hear what other coaching were saying on the headset and reacted to himself.

”I didn’t know what to do for the first quarter,” Holgorsen said. ”I was looking for people to talk to. I’m literally talking to myself. I said to myself, `ah, this sucks.”’

His offense was anything but pathetic, amassing 592 total yards in the 31-24 loss . A retooled offensive line gave quarterback Will Grier plenty of time to look over his reads. And when receivers weren’t open, Grier took off. Normally considered a pocket passer, the junior threw for 371 yards and three touchdowns while rushing 11 times for 52 yards.

Holgorsen would like Grier to think twice about taking off running against East Carolina.

”We need to get the ball in other people’s hands more than his,” Holgorsen said. ”We’re trying to control that but it does bring a different dynamic to it.”

East Carolina is coming off a 34-14 loss to defending FCS champion James Madison. The Dukes amassed 422 rushing yards, and West Virginia has running backs Justin Crawford, Kennedy McKoy and Martell Pettaway, all capable of big gains.

East Carolina coach Scottie Montgomery is wary of the damage Grier can do, too.

”His ability to keep plays alive and make the plays down the field with his legs, I thought he did a really good job of extending plays during the (Virginia Tech) game,” Montgomery said. ”It presents challenges for us because he has an array of weapons on the outside.”

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Some other things to know when the Mountaineers and Pirates meet for the first time since 2009:

ECU QB: Thomas Sirk will start at quarterback against the Mountaineers. He came in for Gardener Minshew against James Madison and went 21 of 25 for 210 yards with two interceptions. Sirk played at Duke in 2015 when Montgomery was the Blue Devils’ offensive coordinator.

DAD’S ALMA MATER: Grier’s father, Chad Grier, played quarterback at East Carolina in 1989 and 1990, serving as the backup to Jeff Blake. This is the second time Will Grier will face East Carolina. Two years ago as a freshman at Florida, Grier threw for 151 yards and two touchdowns in the Gators’ 31-24 win.

SIMMS BACK: Holgorsen said speedy wide receiver Marcus Simms is available to play against East Carolina after serving a one-game suspension following his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving last month in Morgantown. Simms caught six passes for 95 yards and a touchdown in nine games as a freshman.

DON’T BLINK: Montgomery said he doesn’t doubt there’s some panic among East Carolina fans. ”For me I told the team and I will just tell everybody, don’t blink,” he said. ”We are not in a situation with this many games left to go play; smart decisions need to be made.”

DEFENSIVE LAPSES: West Virginia has lost 19 home openers in 125 seasons of football, and defensive coordinator Tony Gibson wants to make sure that doesn’t go higher against the Pirates. Out of 72 plays on defense against Virginia Tech, three proved costly – a pair of long passes and a long run by quarterback Josh Jackson, all leading to touchdowns. ”Three snaps got us,” Gibson said.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Kentucky vows to be on guard this time against neighboring Eastern Kentucky, and with good reason. The Wildcats needed overtime to beat the FCS Colonels the last time the schools met.

Kentucky should be better prepared for the matchup in its home opener on Saturday, with help from the coach who nearly pulled off the upset in their last meeting.

Kentucky first-year special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach Dean Hood was on the EKU sidelines from 2008-15. He had the Colonels on the brink of toppling the Wildcats two years ago before they lost a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead and fell 34-27 in overtime. That win still haunts Wildcats coach Mark Stoops, who hired Hood this spring to guide those positions and maybe gain some insight into his former team.

”We were very fortunate to get to overtime and win the game the last time,” Stoops said this week. ”EKU will be fired up to come in here and play. I’m glad Dean is with me this time.”

Hood has downplayed sentiment and focused his units on following up last week’s strong efforts that helped beat Southern Miss 24-17 . He added that Kentucky can avoid another close call by matching the intensity of an FCS school thinking upset again.

”It’s easier to be the underdog because there’s no pressure,” said Hood, who was 55-38 at EKU with two Ohio Valley Conference titles. ”When you’re not the underdog, you just have to make sure you to match the intensity and match the energy and passion of the other team. If we do that, we should be in good shape.”

EKU lost 31-17 last week at Western Kentucky but nearly matched one of the nation’s most prolific offenses in yardage, 364-345.

Hood’s successor, Mark Elder, is familiar with Kentucky after two seasons as a Tennessee assistant. But he acknowledges that the Wildcats team the Volunteers routed on Halloween in 2015 has matured and joked that his ”eyes are bleeding” from seeing all their improvement on video.

”They were making freshman mistakes two years ago,” he said, ”but now they’re veterans who are balling out.”

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Some other things to watch when Kentucky hosts Eastern Kentucky:

GET BENNY GOING: Kentucky rushed for just 78 yards last week, with 67 coming from sophomore Benny Snell on 20 attempts. The 1,000-yard rusher hasn’t broken the century mark since November and concedes he’s got to be more patient after also fumbling at USM. ”I just wanted to go, go, go like I always do, but I just needed to chill,” Snell said.

AUSTRALIAN PUNTERS: Both schools have punters from Down Under capable of pinning teams deep. EKU’s Keith Wrzuszczak (pronounced ROO-sack), from Victoria, averaged 40.5 yards on four kicks at WKU. Kentucky counterpart Matt Panton (Melbourne) averaged 42 yards on nine kicks, with five inside the 20 and two downed at the 1.

SACK-CESS: Both schools’ pass rush had strong debuts. EKU’s Luder Jean Louis and Taquan Evans each had 1.5 sacks and Aaron Patrick one against WKU. Kentucky DE/LB Denzil Ware had one of the Wildcats’ two sacks in an all-around performance that included a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and a 20-yard fumble return for a TD. He was named Southeastern Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week.

FASTER START: The Colonels aim to avoid digging a big hole as they did in trailing 17-0 at WKU. One area of hope might be their passing game, which totaled 320 yards and two TDs to offset a paltry 25-yard rushing effort.

HEROES WELCOME: Kentucky will honor active and reserve military personnel along with police, firefighters and first responders at its annual Heroes Day promotion.

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LONDON (AP) England’s James Anderson has become the sixth bowler to take 500 test wickets after dismissing Kraigg Brathwaite on Day 2 of the third test against the West Indies at Lord’s.

Payton, who spoke about Dorenbos on a media conference call Friday morning, says Saints physician John Amoss discovered he long-snapper’s aortic aneurysm during a physical examination and ”basically saved his life.”

Dorenbos, who was entering his 15th NFL season, was acquired in a trade with Philadelphia before the New Orleans’ final preseason game.

New Orleans is now placing Dorenbos on its non-football injury list and looking to bring in another long snapper before Monday night’s regular season opener at Minnesota.

Dorenbos is the second Saints player this year to be placed on the non-football injury list for a heart condition. The first was veteran defensive tackle Nick Fairley his summer.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield clearly recalls the blowout in Norman when Ohio State came to town a year ago. The young Buckeyes dominated, quieting the home crowd in a 45-24 thumping of the Sooners.

Oklahoma didn’t lose a game after that, reeling off 11 straight victories. On Saturday night the No. 5 Sooners visit Columbus to face No. 2 Ohio State. While Mayfield and his teammates downplay the revenge factor, they haven’t forgotten the humiliation of last year’s meeting. They remember the “embarrassing” spectacle of Buckeyes players singing the Ohio State school song on their turf.

“Everybody who was here for last year’s huge loss definitely remembers that,” he said.

Mayfield, who threw two interceptions, accepted much of the blame.

“I think it was a huge learning curve for me, losing that game and watching the film and realizing I didn’t play well at all,” he said. “Yeah, we had some good plays and we wound up scoring 20-plus points on a good team. But obviously we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, and a huge part of that was on me.”

Offensive tackle Orlando Brown said the team is trying to keep the focus on this year’s game, but the distasteful memory lingers.

“As far as last year, there are certain things that do stick with us,” he said. “But right now, we’re really focused on this year’s record and doing what we have to do to go win every week and go undefeated, if that’s possible.”

Here are some other things to watch Saturday night:

NEW FACES

Offensively, Oklahoma is not the same team, despite the rock solid presence of Mayfield and Brown. Thousand-yard rushers Joe Mixon and Samaje Perrine are gone, as is Mayfield’s favorite target, Dede Westbrook, who accounted for 1,524 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns last year.

Abdul Adams leads a group of young running backs who will try to pick up the slack, and tight end Mark Andrews hauled in seven passes for 134 yards and a touchdown against UTEP last week. He’s going to catch a ton of Mayfield passes this year.

On Ohio State’s side, quarterback J.T. Barrett’s top three receivers in last year’s Oklahoma game have moved on, including Noah Brown, who caught four TD passes against the Sooners.

TWO-HEADED RB

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said last year’s 1,000-yard rusher Mike Weber is 100 percent and will play in Saturday’s game. True freshman J.K. Dobbins will start, but look for him to split time with Weber.

Weber was slowed by a hamstring injury throughout preseason camp. Meyer said Weber could have played in the opener against Indiana, but his presence wasn’t required as Dobbins staged his coming-out party by rushing for 182 yards on 29 carries.

The questions are how Meyer will handle the rotation and whether Weber will have extra motivation to show that he deserves the job.

EARLY TEST

Meyer said he’s glad Ohio State started the season with a tougher test last week on the road against Indiana instead of the usual opening-day blowout against an overmatched team. That should pay dividends in Saturday’s much more challenging matchup with Oklahoma, he said.

The Buckeyes’ offense started slow against the Hoosiers, trailed 14-13 at halftime and didn’t get on track until midway through the third quarter. The defense in the first half had trouble covering Indiana’s receivers until clamping down later in the game, which the Buckeyes won 49-21.

“I think to beat a team 70-0 right now is not what we need,” Meyer said afterward. Oklahoma, meanwhile, was barely tested in a 56-7 home win over UTEP .

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Odell Beckham Jr. has been listed as questionable for the New York Giants’ season opener against the Cowboys in Dallas on Sunday night.

Questionable in NFL terminology is a 50-50 chance to play.

Beckham has not practiced since spraining his left ankle on Aug. 21 in a preseason game against Cleveland. He stretched with teammates before practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but worked with trainers during the practices.

The three-time Pro Bowler and the Giants’ leading receiver will have another chance to practice Saturday when the team works out at roughly 85 percent of full speed before traveling to Texas.

Coach Ben McAdoo said Beckham would work with trainers Friday, a day the Giants let players rest and recover.

SEATTLE (AP) Bob Stitt is regarded as one of the more innovative offensive minds in college football, honing his craft for years at the small-college level before making the jump to Montana and the FCS level before the 2015 season.

He’s got an admirer in Washington coach Chris Petersen.

”Their coach is a legendary coach for a long time coaching small-college football and a lot of guys have been through his shop to pick his brain and see how he does things,” Petersen said. ”So he’s a really good coach.”

Petersen will get to see Stitt’s innovative offense up close on Saturday when No. 7 Washington faces Montana in the Huskies’ home opener.

It will be the first home game for the Huskies (1-0) since the middle of last November, before they were Pac-12 North champions, before they beat Colorado in the Pac-12 championship game, and before they faced Alabama in the national semifinals. So the opener is expected to be a celebration – even without a premier opponent – and a tuneup after Washington’s sluggish 30-14 season-opening win over Rutgers.

”I am excited to be here at home and I am really excited to see what our crowd is all about. I really, really am,” Petersen said. ”When a program is doing the things they want to do, it doesn’t matter – we only get seven home games, and everybody is going to show up to see their team play. When you look at really the elite programs throughout the country, the (fans) are there – rain, wind, early, late, before school, it doesn’t matter. I am really hopeful we get a really good crowd.”

Montana (1-0) has not traditionally been an FCS team to step up in competition and take on FBS programs. The trip to Seattle will be the Grizzlies’ first FBS game since playing at Wyoming in 2014 and just the second since 2011 when they lost 42-16 at Tennessee.

”We’ve got to use this game to get better and you can’t miss an opportunity for your football team to get better schematically and mentally,” Stitt said. ”To go against the best, that can’t do anything but help us.”

Here are other things to watch as the Huskies host the Grizzlies:

MONTLAKE JAKE: Washington QB Jake Browning was solid but not spectacular in the opener. He threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns. He also took one of the biggest hits of his career early on. Browning would like a little better performance than his last start at Husky Stadium. In the home finale last season, Browning threw for 338 yards and two touchdowns against Arizona State but also threw two interceptions.

REESE’S PIECES: If there is one Montana player not likely to be in awe of the atmosphere at Husky Stadium, it would be starting quarterback Reese Phillips. Phillips started his career at Kentucky before transferring to Montana. One of the three games Phillips appeared in before leaving Kentucky happened to be at Tennessee in front of more than 102,000 fans. Phillips was excellent in Montana’s opener, throwing for 381 yards and four touchdowns in a victory over Valparaiso.

GROUND OUT: Washington’s run game was expected to be a strength with the return of Myles Gaskin and Lavon Coleman, and the addition of freshman Salvon Ahmed. But the ground attack never got going in the opener. Gaskin had just seven carries, Coleman was limited to 40 yards on 14 attempts and Ahmed touched the ball once. ”I think everybody’s always trying to figure those things out. And it’s probably playing `live’ for the first time,” Petersen said. Expect the run game to be a focus for the next couple of weeks as Washington tries to get that part of its offense established heading into Pac-12 play.

AZEEM RETURNS: Washington will get preseason AP All-American linebacker Azeem Victor back on the field for the first time since Nov. 12. Victor suffered a broken leg on that day in Washington’s only regular-season loss last season. He was healthy throughout spring and fall camp, but was suspended for the season opener for violation of team rules. Victor is expected to team with fellow linebacker Keishawn Bierria to form one of the best linebacker duos in the country.

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ROME (AP) Roma’s Serie A match at Sampdoria on Saturday has been postponed due to severe thunderstorms forecast in Genoa.

A replacement date was not immediately announced, although it’s unlikely that the game can be played before mid-October due to Roma’s participation in the Champions League.

Authorities in Genoa have issued a severe storm alert for the entire weekend, with severe rain and flooding expected for the port city.

Sampdoria won its opening two matches of the season while Roma won one and lost one.

Roma hosts Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Malik Jackson shook his head several times as he tried to come up with the last Jacksonville Jaguars player to record double-digit sacks in a season.

“John Henderson?”

Close. The Jaguars haven’t had anyone reach the 10-sack mark since Bobby McCray in 2006.

“Who?” Jackson said. “Never heard of him.”

Few have. McCray never had more than six sacks in any of his other five seasons. His career year earned him a $20 million contract with New Orleans in free agency and left Jacksonville with a decade-plus-long search for the franchise’s next double-digit guy.

The Jaguars are still looking as they open the season at Houston on Sunday.

“We have a lot of potential to be great in this D-line and do things a lot of people haven’t done in a while,” Jackson said. “The great thing about this organization is it’s newer to the point where we can accomplish great things and have a lasting legacy here in Jacksonville with this team.

“It’s a great opportunity to break records and create records.”

Jacksonville likely needs to end its sad-sack streak to improve defensively. The unit finished sixth in the NFL in yards (321.7) in 2016, but lacked steady pressure on opposing quarterbacks that leads to game-changing turnovers.

Still, Yannick Ngakoue set a team rookie record with eight sacks and Dante Fowler Jr. flashed while returning from a knee injury that wiped out his first year. But neither was the complete and consistent edge-rusher Jacksonville has sought for so long.

Jaguars czar Tom Coughlin and general manager Dave Caldwell revamped the line by parting ways with Jared Odrick, Sen’Derrick Marks and Roy Miller in the offseason and signing veteran defensive end Calais Campbell to a four-year, $60 million contract in free agency. Campbell’s role is to be a disruptive presence and a guiding force.

“That’s a guy that does it the right way all the time, each year,” Ngakoue said. “I sit next to him every time we have meetings and soak in every bit of information I can.”

Throw in Jackson, who signed a six-year, $86.1 million in 2016, and the Jaguars believe they’ve got a group capable of controlling the line of scrimmage. They haven’t had that since Henderson and Marcus Stroud anchored the front in the 2000s, the one that helped McCray get 10 sacks.

Since then, the Jaguars have spent millions of dollars and a myriad of draft picks trying to find the right combination.

Derrick Harvey was arguably the most significant mistake. The Jaguars traded four picks to Baltimore to move up 18 spots and select the Florida standout eighth overall in 2008. Harvey managed eight sacks in three seasons and remains one of the biggest busts in franchise history.

And the search continues. Tampa Bay is the only NFL team with a longer streak without a player with double-digit sacks. Simeon Rice accomplished the feat for the Buccaneers in 2005.

“That’s kind of the benchmark in our league — 10 sacks,” Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash said. “The biggest thing is we pressure the quarterback. It doesn’t necessarily mean you got to sack him. You can disrupt him and bad things happen.

“We don’t want those guys to press to try to meet a number. We just want them to play within the scheme and make plays.”

HOUSTON (AP) J.J. Watt is being honored by the NFL Players Association after raising more than $29 million for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

Watt was named the NFLPA’s Community MVP on Friday for his work in the days since the hurricane and flooding devastated Houston and much of southeast Texas.

Watt announced the fundraising page with a video on Twitter after Houston’s preseason game against the Saints in Aug. 26, with a goal of collecting $200,000. As donations kept pouring in, he raised the goal again and again. The number skyrocketed thanks to almost 200,000 donors including Jimmy Fallon, Ellen DeGeneres, Drake and Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul.

Watt also worked with his foundation to fill 12 semi-trucks with supplies, which were brought to Houston and distributed in part by Watt and his teammates on Sunday.

The NFLPA will contribute $10,000 to Watt’s foundation for the honor. He becomes a semifinalist for the Byron Whizzer White Award, given annually by the group to recognize charitable efforts of players.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Green Bay Packers tight end Martellus Bennett plans to give his older brother, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, a hug when he sees him this weekend.

Recent events off the field make their teams’ juicy NFL season-opener on Sunday seem trivial by comparison.

Martellus Bennett, who went to high school in Taylor, Texas, has been working to raise money and supplies for residents of flood-ravaged parts of that state. And this week, Michael Bennett released a statement alleging racially motivated excessive force by the Las Vegas police.

“Sometimes, a hug is the best thing you can give,” Martellus Bennett says as his voice starts cracking. He talks to his brother several times a week.

“Two seconds this way, two seconds that way, the whole thing is different,” he adds. “So for me, I’ll just be happy to see my brother.”

Once the game kicks off, the Bennetts probably won’t have to face each other on Lambeau Field. But the matchup between Seattle’s tough-as-nails defense and Green Bay’s potent offense should be intriguing.

They appear to be the two best teams in the NFC, and this could be a preview of a playoff in January.

“Yeah, our two teams know,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says.

“When you start the season, training camp, I’m sure 32 teams are talking about winning the Super Bowl. It’s not really the case. There’s not that many teams that have those squads that could do it. Us and Seattle are usually in the mix. They have been and we have been for a long time. You know it’s going to be two teams that expect to be there in the end.”

The season got going on Thursday when Kansas City stunned defending champion New England 42-27 in the season opener.

Alex Smith threw two long touchdown passes and rookie Kareem Hunt, after fumbling on his first NFL carry, scored three times for the visiting Chiefs.

The Patriots faded badly in the second half. Tom Brady, the 13th quarterback to start an NFL game at age 40, struggled mightily in the second half and didn’t throw for a touchdown.

Also, the opener between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins that was scheduled for Sunday was postponed by the NFL until Nov. 19 because of Hurricane Irma.

Nowhere in a medical dictionary will you find the term “Super Bowl malaise.” No matter: It exists.

Will the Atlanta Falcons fall victim to it? They insist not, saying they have got rid of all the angst and disappointment from their epic collapse at the Super Bowl well before they gathered for training camp.

The Falcons come into the season eyeing another big run, and that starts with the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

“The way this team has developed, the way this team has pushed itself, we are a better team than we were last year,” Atlanta safety Ricardo Allen says. “And if we made it to the Super Bowl last year, we have a fairly good chance of making it fairly far this year.”

The Falcons were a surprise NFC champion last year, going from 8-8 in coach Dan Quinn’s first season to 11-5. They appeared to be on their way to their first Super Bowl victory with a 25-point lead over New England, only to see Brady and the Patriots rally to beat them in overtime.

Not since the Buffalo Bills dropped four in a row in the 1990s has a losing team returned to the Super Bowl the following season.

The prime-time spotlight on Monday will shine on Adrian Peterson’s return to Minneapolis. He’s not the top running back for the New Orleans Saints – Mark Ingram is – but Peterson will be the focal point against a Minnesota defense that needs more consistency. Peterson was released in the offseason after 10 years as a Viking.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer got testy when asked about Peterson.

“I’m just going to talk about my players,” Zimmer says. When asked if Peterson will have a chip on his shoulder, Zimmer responds: “I hope we have a chip on our shoulder. This game isn’t about Adrian Peterson. It’s about the Vikings and the Saints. They’ve got a lot of great offensive weapons and he’s a great player, but this game isn’t about Adrian Peterson.”

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers open a must-win series Friday with their pitcher most likely to win on the mound.

Left-hander Martin Perez (11-10, 4.87 ERA) has been one of the keys to the Rangers’ resurgence in the wild-card playoff picture. Perez has matched a career high by winning his past six starts heading into his outing against the New York Yankees.

The Rangers will need Perez and the rest of the Rangers to be at full strength. The Friday game starts a huge homestretch for Texas that includes series against the Yankees, the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Angels, all teams that are fighting for the two American League wild-card berths.

Texas manager Jeff Banister has no doubt his team club be ready to get the homestand started on a big note.

“Our guys continue to stay engaged, continue to battle,” said Banister, whose team comes into the series following a Thursday off day after splitting a doubleheader in Atlanta on Wednesday. “It’s a challenge. I feel like our guys are playing well. We’ll get ready for New York on Friday.”

Perez hasn’t backed into any wins during his current hot streak. He has a 3.15 ERA in that span, which has allowed him to drop his overall ERA by more than half a run. He already has set a career high for wins.

Perez will have to buck a limited history against the Yankees to become the first Texas pitcher to win seven straight starts since Kenny Rogers in 2005. Perez has faced the Yankees twice, going 1-1 with a whopping 12.86 ERA. In his last start against New York in 2015, he retired only three batters.

The Yankees counter with right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (11-10, 4.54 ERA). Like Perez, Tanaka is on a roll. He has won three consecutive starts, pitching seven innings in each and allowing a total of five runs. One of his best starts this year came against Texas on June 23, when he struck out nine over eight scoreless innings in a no-decision.

In three career starts against Texas, Tanaka is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA.

Tanaka will have a lineup behind him that is at full strength. The Yankees are coming off a series win against Baltimore after losing 11 straight series to the Orioles at Camden Yards. New York will have catcher Gary Sanchez back in the lineup, too, as he is returning from a three-game suspension for his part in a brawl at Detroit on Aug. 24.

“We’ve been playing our ballgame,” Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge told Newsday after New York’s 9-1 victory over Baltimore on Thursday. “Just kind of passing the baton, getting those clutch hits with runners on.”

That approach has worked recently as New York has scored 22 runs in its last three games.

Judge hit his 39th home run of the season Thursday, tying him with Oakland’s Khris Davis for the American League lead. It was Judge’s second home run in four games after he went 15 contests without one.

HUMBLE, Texas (AP) — Blake Herrera fidgeted with the crisp, white jersey borrowed from another school before wiping an arm soaked in sweat on football pants that didn’t belong to him.

The senior didn’t care that the No. 22 across his chest wasn’t his and everything he wore was a hodgepodge of items donated from schools wanting to help.

What was important to the bright-eyed 17-year-old was this: His Kingwood High team was back together after flooding from Hurricane Harvey all but destroyed his school and everything in it. And in about 24 hours, he and his teammates would be back under the Friday night lights for a scrimmage that will be among the first of its kind since the storm shut down prep football in the largest city in Texas — a welcome and comforting step forward after scores of games were canceled or postponed in the state that reveres the sport more than any other.

“There was a time when us and our coaching staff thought that we might not play football again,” Herrera said. “But then when we got the help from (other) schools … it really meant a lot to us and really touched our hearts. Because … it was our life basically and it was sad that it got taken away from us.”

While Herrera and the rest of the Kingwood football team returned to practice this week, things are far from normal in an area where thousands of homes were swamped, many beyond repair. The team is practicing nine miles away from the school and Kingwood students will attend classes at still another school beginning on Monday.

“I equated the inside of Kingwood High school to what you see on the Titanic,” said Troy Kite, the athletic director for the Humble school district. “You just can’t describe the ruins that were in there. It’s just impossible. It’s like a movie, and yet that movie is now us.”

Kingwood is one of the schools hardest hit, but thousands of young athletes are trying to figure out their next move — not just where they might play but whether they will play at all. The University Interscholastic League, which oversees public school athletics in Texas, created a “Hurricane Harvey waiver” to allow students displaced by the storm to transfer and immediately be eligible for sports.

“This is really the largest disaster we’ve had to deal with in the state at the UIL level,” deputy director Jamey Harrison said. “We have dealt with other storms from Katrina where as a storm we were taking on a number of people that were displaced from Louisiana and other states and then Hurricanes Rita and Ike that impacted less schools and impacted them in a very different way than this one did.”

State officials recommended that the more than 2,700 students at Kingwood High simply transfer elsewhere while the school is repaired, Kite said. That would have not only have broken up an entire school, it would have meant none of its teams could play this season.

It was a plan district administrators quickly rejected.

“It really has been a community thing and I think that’s the reason that dissolving the school for a year would be absolutely the worst thing,” Kite said. “We’re aware it would have been the easiest thing for adults to do. Yet that would have been the worst thing for the kids and the community.”

Instead, they came up with an unusual plan that has Kingwood’s students attending classes at Summer Creek High. The Summer Creek students will go to school from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. each day and the Kingwood students will go from about 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. It also means that football is back, too, and just in time for teens eager for its familiar routines among the chaos.

Herrera didn’t just lose his school in the flooding. His home is gone, too. He’s bunking with a friend while the rest of his family, including his mother who was rescued on a boat by one of his teammates, is living with relatives outside of town.

“I like staying at my friend’s house, but it gets old after a while,” he said. “I miss my mom. I miss my stepdad. I miss my puppy. I miss a lot.”

The uniforms he and others were wearing at practice this week didn’t match, and many of their helmets bore the name or logo of other schools. Kite was among those who fished equipment out of the fetid waters that engulfed the Kingwood locker room. He hadn’t had much reason to smile as he worked tirelessly to salvage Kingwood’s season.

“As you’re pulling all those wet uniforms out, I can’t begin to describe how nasty it is,” he said. “And you go: `Dear God, what are we doing?’ And … you want to quit and then you’ll see another coach from another school showing up and going in to help us and you get a second wind and you keep going.”

When Kingwood had its first practice since the storm, he gazed out onto the field, taking in the rainbow of colorful jerseys and all the struggles dissipated for a moment.

“We looked like a bag of Skittles,” he said chuckling.

New uniforms were expected to arrive on Friday, but there are no plans to use them during the evening scrimmage that will be held exactly two weeks after Harvey made landfall in Texas. Everyone liked the mixture of colors from all the schools, a tangible representation of how the community came together to help.

“We are going to scrimmage just like this in our borrowed equipment and let our community see what we’ve been talking about,” coach Barry Campbell said.

While Kingwood needed many helping hands to keep its season going, the players who got through the storm safely didn’t hesitate to pitch in to help their neighbors.

Kingwood linebacker Aaron Finch said he and his father borrowed a boat and spent time after the storm rescuing people from flooded homes. He estimates that they picked up 50-60 people.

“It was heartbreaking,” he said. “Me and my dad saved a 5-day-old baby and a mom that had a C-section and it was really sad for them to get in the boat.”

Wanting to see how their school looked, Finch, Herrera and another teammate were on a jet ski when they saw a deer struggling to swim in water up to its neck.

“It wouldn’t have lived if we wouldn’t have helped it,” Finch said, fighting back tears. “He was so tired and so exhausted that he didn’t care what happened … so we did what we could and helped him to safety.”

For now, the thought of being on the field in front of their families, friends and fans was a welcome distraction.

“Friday night lights is an exciting thing in Texas … (and) I think our football team can be a rallying point in the recovery process,” Campbell said. “People have been working for over a week, working their nails to the bone, their fingers to the bone. They’re sore and they still have a lot of work to do. I think our team can allow a little outlet, a little normalcy, a little release, a little fun.”

It’s already given Herrera a small slice of what his life was like before the storm.

“When you come out here it kind of eases my mind,” he said. “It feels really good out here.”

PROVO, Utah (AP) Darren Carrington is new to the Utah-BYU rivalry but the Oregon transfer has picked up the nuances fairly quickly.

The senior receiver remembers the criticism after he signed with Utah following his dismissal from the Ducks program for an arrest on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence.

”They’ve been hating on me and saying some things that I’ve been peeping in the media,” Carrington said. ”More power to them, but yeah, we’re coming. They’ve definitely added more fuel to my fire. This is my team. If (my teammates) hate them, I hate them too.”

Utah (1-0) has won six straight against BYU (1-1) and 15 of the last 18. The rivalry has always featured close ties between programs separated by less than 50 miles, but things have taken on a different feel since Kalani Sitake was hired to lead the Cougars last year.

Sitake played at BYU, but spent 10 seasons coaching at Utah under Kyle Whittingham, including six as defensive coordinator, and the two are close friends. Whittingham and two Utes assistant coaches played at BYU while two BYU assistants, including defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki, coached at Utah. Utes receivers coach Guy Holliday held the same position at BYU before Sitake brought in his staff.

”If I had to fight my brother at the end of this week, we’d shake hands at the beginning and then we’d get down,” Tuiaki said. ”After that, we’d hug. None of that bothers me.”

The matchup comes at a good time for BYU after being shut out 27-0 by No. 12 LSU last week.

BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum said there wasn’t time to dwell on the loss and Utah always elicits a high level of energy. Nine of the last 11 games between the two programs have been decided by a single score.

”We don’t have time to feel sorry for ourselves,” Mangum said.

Most coaches and players tried not to add fuel to the fire this week for a game that already elicits strong emotions.

Utah safety Chase Hansen quickly clarified himself while using a little brother-big brother analogy to avoid any disrespect.

But Sitake and Whittingham acknowledged this is not just another game on the schedule. Bragging rights for a rivalry that began in 1896 remain on the line.

UGLY O: Sitake said there will be changes after the Cougars offense sputtered through the first two weeks. BYU was held to negative-5 yards rushing and 102 passing yards last week and never crossed midfield. BYU’s Mangum has completed 54.9 percent of his passes and the team has just 19 first downs in two games.

CARRINGTON CARRYING: Carrington made his Utah debut last week with 10 catches, 127 yards and a touchdown. The receptions were the most by a Utah receiver in a single game in the last two seasons and the yardage eclipsed any individual single-game output from 2016. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound receiver will be a major factor in Utah’s new spread offense throughout the season. BYU starting cornerbacks Dayan Ghanwoloku and Troy Warner will be tested.

TRENCH WARFARE: The Utah offensive line was not at its best in the Utes’ season-opening win as it continues to gel after replacing four starters. It will be challenged by a BYU defensive line led by Sione Takitaki. The junior defensive end leads the team in sacks (2.0) and tackles for loss (4.0) and is tied for No. 2 with 12 tackles.

GAY FOR 3: Utah senior Matt Gay won the placekicking job in Week 1 after going three for three on field goals. Utah coaches hadn’t decided on a kicker after fall camp and gave freshman Chayden Johnston the first opportunity and he missed from 45 yards out. Gay came in and connected from 49, 33 and 32 yards to earn the starting job.

MIXED BAG: Huntley is making his second career start after totaling 297 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. … BYU starting safety Micah Hannemann will miss the first half after being flagged for targeting last week. … Utah was flagged 11 times for 135 yards in the season opener.

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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Everything that Kansas coach David Beaty envisioned when he landed junior college transfer Peyton Bender and plucked offensive coordinator Doug Meacham from TCU manifested itself in the first quarter of the Jayhawks’ season-opening rout of Southeast Missouri State.

There was the 77-yard touchdown pass to Steven Sims Jr. that set the tone in the opening minutes, then the short touchdown pass to Chase Harrell that proved the first score was no fluke.

Bender proceeded to throw two more touchdown passes, and finished with 364 yards through the air, in the kind of performance not seen at Kansas since Todd Reesing was running the show.

”Coach Meacham did a great job with the game plan, getting everybody involved. I just went through my reads, and went through my progressions,” said Bender, who won a tight race with Carter Stanley for the starting job in fall camp. ”You know, that’s how the offense is supposed to work.”

It just hasn’t worked that way in quite a while.

The Jayhawks, who hope to duplicate the effort against Central Michigan on Saturday, have struggled the past couple years to fully implement Beaty’s ”Air Raid” offense. But with Meacham barking at guys on the sideline, the Jayhawks finally showed some offensive explosiveness in a 38-16 victory.

”I mean, worth every penny,” Beaty said of his new assistant. ”The guy’s really good. He’s really good. I was talking to some people about that, just watching his poise on game day and how he manages.”

Bender and Meacham could have their work cut out for them this Saturday. The Chippewas picked off six passes – and needed every one of them – in a season-opening, triple-overtime victory over Rhode Island. Justin Cox and Amari Coleman each had two of them.

”All around I thought our defensive played amazing, they did really well with (the offense) not getting into the in end zone as many times as we wanted to,” Central Michigan quarterback Shane Morris said. ”They did a great job. Six picks. Unbelievable. I’ve never been part of a game like that.”

As the Jayhawks and Chippewas meet Saturday, here are some things to watch:

GROUND GAME, PART I

Central Michigan’s Jonathan Ward ran for 147 yards and a touchdown, and Devon Spaulding added 70 yards on 20 carries and the winning score in the final overtime. But the 246 yards on the ground by Central Michigan were offset by four fumbles, three of which were lost.

GROUND GAME, PART II

Kansas only managed 73 yards rushing against the Redhawks, despite trying out five different running backs.

”You know, we’re going to need them all,” Beaty said. ”We’re pretty blessed right now, if we can keep them healthy and keep them upright, that we’ve got some talented guys.”

MULTIPLE PASSERS

Morris, a graduate transfer from Michigan, gave way to Central Michigan freshman Tony Poljan for a couple series. Chippewas coach John Bonamego said that was by design.

”The plan was to use Tony more,” Bonamego said. ”I thought Tony did a decent job when he was in there.”

NOT ANOTHER JOE

After missing most of last season with an injury, Kansas linebacker Joe Dineen Jr. returned to pile up 15 tackles last weekend. That earned him the Big 12’s defensive player of the week award.

”I’m sure it means a lot to him,” fellow linebacker Keith Loneker Jr. said. ”He’s the type of guy that doesn’t think about that type of stuff. He just expects it. That’s what I love about Joe.”

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Kansas allowed 264 yards to Southeast Missouri State last week, or 3.4 per play. That’s the lowest average for a Jayhawks defense since the 2010 opener against North Dakota State.

”I thought our defense was on the field way too much last week. And the good thing is, as we look at it, almost every bit of it was self-imposed,” Beaty said. ”It wasn’t like we were necessarily just overmatched. There wasn’t much we could do. It was pretty much all of us, right?”

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MEXICO CITY (AP) The NFL has apologized for an ”unacceptable” tweet with three smiley emojis that likened the Kansas City Chiefs’ big victory over the New England Patriots to a deadly earthquake that shook Mexico.

The tweet came from the league’s official NFL Mexico account after the Chiefs upset the Super Bowl champions 42-27 in the season opener Thursday night.

The game ended about a half-hour before the earthquake, which killed at least 32 people. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 8.1, hit the southern coast of Mexico. Authorities say it was the strongest in Mexico in a half-century.

The tweet from the (at)nflmx account said in Spanish: ”When Mexico City shakes with an (hash)earthquake because it can’t believe the (at)Chiefs won the (hash)Kickoff2017 game.”

The since-deleted tweet received wide criticism online. The NFL Mexico account later apologized for the ”unacceptable tweet from yesterday, which doesn’t reflect the league’s values. We reiterate our solidarity with Mexico.”

The NFL is one of the most popular sports in Mexico, where the Raiders will play a regular-season game in November for a second consecutive season.

Payton, who spoke about Dorenbos on a media conference call Friday morning, says Saints physician John Amoss discovered he long-snapper’s aortic aneurysm during a physical examination and “basically saved his life.”

Dorenbos, who was entering his 15th NFL season, was acquired in a trade with Philadelphia before the New Orleans’ final preseason game.

New Orleans is now placing Dorenbos on its non-football injury list and looking to bring in another long snapper before Monday night’s regular season opener at Minnesota.

Dorenbos is the second Saints player this year to be placed on the non-football injury list for a heart condition. The first was veteran defensive tackle Nick Fairley his summer.

Last week Baylor lost to Liberty, a fledgling football program in the process of transitioning from FCS to FBS. Not a great start for coach Matt Rhule. It won't get easier this week for the Bears in their pursuit of victory No. 1 under the new regime.

Texas-San Antonio, a team expected to contend in Conference USA under second-year coach Frank Wilson, comes to Waco, Texas.

Other Power Five teams that face tough tests from schools outside the Power Five.

-- Arizona hosts Houston.

-- Arizona State hosts San Diego State.

-- Illinois hosts Western Kentucky.

-- Mississippi State travels to Louisiana Tech.

Jerome MironJerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Today's starting pitchers: LHP Patrick Corbin vs. RHP Jordan Lyles

Streaming live on FOX Sports GO

Each victory at this point extends the D-backs' franchise-record winning streak, which now stands at 13 following a three-game sweep of the Dodgers and a 6-0 road trip to Colorado and Los Angeles. Over the last 11 games, they've trailed their opponent for a grand total of one-half inning.

The D-backs (82-58) are a season-best 24 games over .500 and 7 games clear in the race for the top NL wild-card spot, though they still trail the Dodgers by 10 (down from 21 in late August) in the NL West.

"We're battling, grinding and sticking together, and those are things that make you win those close games and win 13 straight," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said.

The Padres (63-78) are coming off a 3-0 victory over St. Louis on Thursday that halted a three-game losing streak. They've lost 9 of 13 meetings with the D-backs this season, but they haven't seen each other since June 8.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) Mike Riley is coming home to Oregon but this is just a business trip.

The former Oregon State Beavers coach is bringing his current team to Autzen Stadium for a high-profile early-season game between Nebraska and the Oregon Ducks.

”This is not about me going back to Oregon. This is about the Nebraska team playing the Ducks, but it is fun for me,” Riley said. ”I’ve spent a lot of time, and had too many hard times in that stadium, so we’re excited to go play and win the game for this 2017 team.”

Riley grew up in Corvallis, some 50 miles north of Eugene, and played quarterback for Corvallis High School. His dad, Bud, was an assistant at Oregon State. Riley himself had two stints as head coach of the Beavers between 1997 and 2014.

He still has a home in the central Oregon town, which he joked that his wife won’t let him sell.

”I do like revisiting that history because I appreciated it so much. All of those times were special. I watched games in that stadium when I was a kid,” he said.

During his time with the Beavers. Riley was 1-6 at Autzen Stadium in Civil War rivalry games. The only win was in 2007 when the Beavers beat the Ducks 38-31 in double overtime.

Nebraska (1-0) is coming off a 43-36 victory over Arkansas State last Saturday. The Huskers went 9-4 last season, their second under Riley.

Oregon (1-0) is playing its first season under coach Willie Taggart, who took over after the Ducks finished 4-8 last season.

The team won the opener in decisive fashion, routing lower-division Southern Utah 77-21. It was Oregon’s most points in a single game since 1916. The Ducks also racked up 703 yards in total offense and set a new Autzen record with nine rushing touchdowns.

Other things to watch when Oregon hosts Nebraska on Saturday:

ANOTHER CONNECTION: Taggart is a former quarterback who started all four years at Western Kentucky. Before that, he played at Manatee High School in Bradenton, Florida, where he followed quarterback Tommie Frazier – who went on to lead the Huskers to consecutive national championships and undefeated seasons in 1994 and 1995.

As a sophomore, Taggart was Frazier’s backup.

”If there’s anything that helped me it was learning how competitive he was and then how he didn’t want anyone to beat him, he didn’t want anyone to take his job, he didn’t want any of that,” Taggart said. ”That’s the way you have to be. I think that’s why he was a great player, he took pride in it every single day.”

Taggart made his debut as a head coach with Western Kentucky against Nebraska in 2010, losing 49-10 to the Huskers in Lincoln.

HISTORY: The Huskers won last year’s meeting in Lincoln, 35-32. It was the fifth straight Nebraska victory in the series between the two teams. The game Saturday will be the first time in the past six meetings that neither team is nationally ranked.

Saturday will also mark Nebraska’s first appearance at Autzen and first visit to Oregon since a 28-13 victory over the Ducks in 1952 at what is now Providence Park in Portland.

SMOKY SKIES: There are so many large wildfires burning in Oregon that there was some concern about the air quality for Saturday’s game. The smoky skies made conditions hazardous in Eugene for most of the week, forcing the Ducks to travel to the coast for practice on Tuesday.

But showers that moved over the region late Thursday did the trick, and the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency said air quality was categorized as ”good ” by Friday morning.

ABOUT THE UNIFORMS: The Ducks will be wearing special new uniforms when they host Nebraska. Nike teamed up with OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital for the clean white ”Stomp Out Cancer” uniforms. Three young cancer survivors, Joe MacDonald, Sophia Malinoski and Ethan Frank, served as the design team.

Because Oregon is wearing white, Nebraska will wear its home uniforms in Eugene. The last time the Huskers wore their red jerseys in a true road game was the 1976 opener. They were in their home uniforms for the 6-6 tie at LSU because the Tigers wear white jerseys at home.

QUOTABLE: Taggart was asked how the offense can improve after scoring 77 points in the opener – which put Oregon atop the nation in scoring after the first week. ”They’ve got to score at least 78,” he joked.

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AP Sports Writer Eric Olson in Nebraska contributed to this report.

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More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-Top25

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Follow Anne M. Peterson at http://twitter.com/anniempeterson

CLEVELAND (AP) The Cleveland Browns will take the field on Sunday with some area police and firefighters in a pregame show of unity.

As part of a broader effort to connect with their community, Cleveland’s players also will run onto the field before their season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers with emergency workers and military personnel. The groups will then stand together for the national anthem.

After some Browns were criticized for kneeling in prayer during the national anthem before a recent exhibition game, several players felt their display was misinterpreted and wanted to do something more to reach out to the community. They first met with owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam and later with Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams and other officers to develop a ”neighborhood plan.”

Team spokesman Peter Jean-Baptiste said that may include players riding along with police on patrol and attending area meetings to help strengthen the relationship between police and citizens.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One of the biggest season-opening wins in Chiefs history came at the expense of their All-Pro safety.

Eric Berry ruptured his left Achilles tendon in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s 42-27 victory over the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, not only ending his season but leaving the Chiefs without one of the most visible and vocal leaders on their defense.

“You’re not going to replace Eric Berry with another Eric Berry. That’s not what happens,” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who confirmed the team’s initial fears in a conference call Friday. “But the guys know that Eric would be disappointed if they left off the accelerator at all. I think we’ll be OK there.”

Berry was hurt while covering Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski on a passing route. He hobbled at the end of the play and promptly sat on the turf, where the team’s training staff began examining him. Berry did not appear to be in obvious discomfort, but it took a cart to remove him from the field.

The Chiefs have dealt with a rash of Achilles tendon injuries in recent years, including two sustained by Derrick Johnson. The star linebacker’s latest occurred late last season, but he managed to return to the field by summer workouts and was a full participant in training camp.

Berry also has a history of overcoming serious hurdles in his career.

He missed most of the 2011 season after tearing the ACL in his left knee, only to start 16 games the following season. He also missed the final 10 games of the 2014 regular season while undergoing treatment for lymphoma, only to return to training camp and again play all 16 games the following season.

Berry was coming off arguably his best year in 2016, when he made 77 tackles, picked off four passes and returned two for touchdowns. He almost single-handedly won a game in Atlanta, and was a big reason why the Chiefs went 12-4 and won their first AFC West title since 2010.

His performance while playing under the franchise tag earned him a six-year, $78 million contract this past offseason, making Berry the highest-paid safety in the league.

“I’m on a bit of a low right now,” Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said. “I love him to death. He’s our fearless leader, and to see him go down in the first game breaks your heart.”

The Chiefs are deep at safety, though. Eric Murray played well after Berry left the game, while Daniel Sorensen — who performs multiple roles in the defense — could also play the position.

The game Thursday night also gives the Chiefs some extra time to assess options before playing their home opener against Philadelphia on Sept. 17. Reid said he expected new general manager Brett Veach to scour the waiver wire and inquire about safeties outside the organization as well.

“Brett’s keeping his eyes open for things right now. That’s what he does,” Reid said. “He’s always on top of that. We’re just kind of seeing the different options there.”

In the meantime, Reid said he expects Berry to continue to have a role on the team.

He broke down the defensive huddle even after leaving the game Thursday night, providing some energy for them when the outcome was still hanging in the balance, and Reid joked that Berry might get a head-start on a potential post-playing career by auditioning as an assistant coach.

“He had an opportunity to talk to the team last night after the game,” Reid said, “and I know he’d be very disappointed if anybody hung their head or let that be an issue. And I thought the guys handled it very well after Eric got hurt. Our guys were able to kind of muster it up and keep the emotional football part of it in focus there.”

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) As much respect as Ross Bowers earned during California’s season-opening win over North Carolina, the redshirt sophomore quarterback gained even more credibility for his willingness to stay in the pocket and absorb a handful of big hits from the Tar Heels defense.

Golden Bears wide receiver Vic Wharton III, who had 156 yards and a touchdown receiving in the game, said Bowers’ toughness sent a signal to the rest of Cal’s players.

”That just shows all the receivers, and really the entire team, that we’ve got a really tough quarterback,” Wharton said. ”He’s not afraid to take some shots and stand in there while someone’s becoming open because he’s going to get hit. We know he’s going to make the throw no matter what.”

Bowers was definitely impressive in his first collegiate start. He completed 24 of 38 passes for 363 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions and led the Bears to a pair of scores in the fourth quarter to fuel the 35-30 comeback win.

Having proven his moxie on the road, Bowers gets his first chance to play in front of California’s fans when the Bears host Weber State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

That Bowers was able to play the entire game against North Carolina was impressive considering the way he was roughed up by the defense. On one play, Bowers suffered a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit while throwing that led to the ejection of Tar Heels defensive lineman Jalen Dalton.

Each time he got hit, Bowers delivered the pass and picked himself up off the turf afterward.

”Ross is that kind of guy,” California coach Justin Wilcox said ”You look at the big series before the half, he got hit on the targeting and took a shot from (Dalton) and then came back the next play and threw the ball to Vic and got hit again.”

As good as Bowers was, Wharton was equally impressed and encouraged by Cal’s ability to come back after trailing early in the game.

”The team camaraderie is a lot different than last year,” Wharton said. ”You can tell on the sideline on Saturday that it’s just completely different with how everyone stays calm. We expected to win the football game and you could tell that through the game.”

Here are a few other things to look for when California hosts Weber State in the first-ever meeting between the two programs:

TRIMMING HALFTIME: Wilcox said the Bears will have to be better organized to adapt to the Pac-12’s pilot program for reducing the length of games. Part of the program includes reducing commercials and cutting halftime from 20 minutes to 15 minutes in certain non-conference games, including Saturday’s at Memorial Stadium. ”We just have to be really efficient getting in the locker room, doing what you need to do, and getting back out,” Wilcox said. ”Just be organized going in and be really efficient with your time once you get in there and talk to the guys.”

SLOWING DOWN THE CATS: Weber State set a school record for scoring in its 76-0 win over NAIA school Montana Western but is facing a Cal defense that showed signs of improving after giving up more than 42 points a game in 2016. The Wildcats scored on their first nine possessions. Conversely, the Bears came out strong against the Tar Heels and forced three punts and a fumble on the first five drives.

SPREADING IT AROUND: The Wildcats had eight rushing touchdowns by seven different players in their season-opening win and expect to challenge the Bears the same way. Sophomore running back Kevin Smith is the main option in the backfield and was the only Weber State player to have more than one rushing TD last week.

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More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25

Will crop of young arms keep Braves from adding a veteran pitcher for ’18 and beyond? Chip Caray and Cory McCartney discuss, plus the reality check of Atlanta hosting back-to-back teams in the Rangers and Marlins that are affected by tropical storms.

Does anyone remember when 300 career home runs was a big deal?

Ryan Braun sits one away from that career milestone, which doesn’t mean as much as is used to. However, it still will put Braun in some elite company.

With his next home run — yes, No. 300 — Braun will become just the sixth player in major-league history to have 300+ homers and 180+ stolen bases through his first 11 MLB seasons. Besides his 299 homers, Braun has stolen 190 bases (and we’re really rooting for at least two more this season).

The others:

— Willie Mays (1951-62): 368 HR, 240 SB

— Reggie Jackson (1967-77): 313 HR, 188 SB

— Barry Bonds (1986-96): 334 HR, 380 SB

— Sammy Sosa (1989-99): 336 HR, 224 SB

— Alex Rodriguez (1994-2004): 381 HR, 205 SB

Braun seemingly has a good chance to join that exclusive club this weekend.

He’s hit three home runs against the Chicago Cubs this season, including two in four games at Wrigley Field. In his career, Braun has 32 homers vs. Chicago with 14 coming at Wrigley (both are the second most, behind Cincinnati and Great American Ball Park).

Braun has two career homers off John Lackey, the Cubs’ Friday starter — one this year and one last, and both at Wrigley. Saturday, the Brewers face Mike Montgomery — yup, Braun took him deep this year at Wrigley, too. He hasn’t hit one off Sunday’s starter Kyle Hendricks, but maybe he’ll already be at 300 by then — and, of course, just because it hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it can’t.

Other notes:

— The last seven games Jimmy Nelson has started have all been decided by one run. That’s the longest streak for any pitcher since Arizona’s Wade Miley had seven in a row from May 27-July 1, 2014. The last pitcher to have eight consecutive starts decided by one run was San Diego’s Tim Worrell (Aug. 4-Sept. 15, 1993).

Statistics courtesy STATS and baseball-reference

LONDON (AP) West Indies was 93-3 in its second innings and led England by 22 runs at stumps on Day 2 of the third test at Lord’s on Friday.

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) Arizona State has taken steps to upgrade its defense after spending the past two seasons watching opponents reel in one big play after another.

It’s still a work in progress and a big test comes this weekend.

A week after giving up 549 yards to New Mexico State, the Sun Devils face run-heavy San Diego State and its terrific tailback, Rashaad Penny.

”It’s just old school, kind of a blend between what Stanford and what Boise has done in the past,” Arizona State coach Todd Graham said. ”They are going to ground and pound, run play action passes and have had great tailbacks.”

Arizona State (1-0) had the FBS’ worst passing defense each of the past two seasons and hoped for an improvement this season despite playing new cornerbacks. The cornerbacks, Kobe Williams and Joe Bryant, each had key interceptions in last week’s 37-31 season-opening win over New Mexico State, but the Sun Devils again gave up big plays.

New Mexico State rolled up 549 yards of total offense against Arizona State, including 398 yards passing by Tyler Rogers and 151 yards on 30 carries as a team.

The Sun Devils played their starters the entire first half and well into the second, but were well in control of the game heading into the fourth quarter. The Aggies managed to cut into Arizona State’s lead with a string of chunk plays in the final quarter, though, including a 50-yard touchdown run by Jason Huntley.

The stakes will be raised on Saturday.

San Diego State was seventh nationally in rushing offense last season and Penny ran for over 1,000 yards as a backup to Donnel Pumphrey. Penny ran for 197 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 38-17 win over UC Davis last week, helping the Aztecs churn up 276 yards on the ground.

In other words, the Sun Devils could have their hands full.

A few more things to look for when Arizona State hosts San Diego State on Saturday night:

PLAYING THE PAC-12: San Diego State coach Rocky Long likes the challenge of playing against teams from the Pac-12 conference, even if the Aggies have not had much success doing it. San Diego State is 2-16 against the Pac-12 since 2000, but both wins came under Long, including a wild, 45-40 win over California last season. The Aztecs host Stanford next week before opening Mountain West Conference play against Air Force. ”Putting (Pac-12 teams) on our schedule is a big deal to us because it’s an opportunity game,” Long told reporters this week. ”That was my suggestion because I think in the long run, as college football develops, you better prove that you can compete.”

WILKINS’ RETURN: Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkins had a strong return from an injury-plagued 2016 season. The junior threw for 300 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while extending plays with his legs. Wilkins also avoided taking hard hits, an issue that led to some of the injuries last season, but he also held the ball too long at times. Arizona State had issues protecting him as well.

AZTECS AND TURNOVERS: San Diego State has had a knack for forcing turnovers under Long, ranking second nationally in 2015 and fifth last season. The Aztecs, who run a 3-3-5 defense, had two interceptions and recovered a fumble against UC Davis. Graham preaches ball protection as a top priority every week and it will be particularly important Saturday.

RUNNING DEVILS: Arizona State was expected to have one of the Pac-12’s best 1-2 running back punches this season, but only had one at its disposal against New Mexico State. Senior Demario Richard was limited to one carry against New Mexico State, spending the rest of the game on or near the training table with a right leg injury. He returned to practice this week, so could return for Saturday’s game. Kalen Ballage managed pretty well without his running mate, scoring two touchdowns while rushing for 79 yards.

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The NHL season is around the corner, but you can whet your appetite by watching the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues square off at the NHL prospects tournament in Traverse City, Mich.

Those who get FOX Sports North can watch the game on FOX Sports GO.

Click here to watch.

Other games for the Wild, which will also be on FSGO, are Saturday at 6:30 p.m. against the Blue Jackets and Monday vs. the Stars at 2:30 p.m. There is also a game Tuesday, the time and opponent determined by the standings after three games.

Now the coach at Charlotte, Lambert was born in the small town of Hoxie and starred as a defensive back for the Wildcats in the mid-1980s. It was a period under coaches Jim Dickey and Stan Parrish during which the program won so few games, there were thoughts about its expulsion from the Big Eight.

“They’ve really done a nice job there of building their football program,” said Lambert, whose 49ers visit the No. 19 Wildcats on Saturday. “What coach Bill Snyder has done there is well-documented.”

Snyder was hired to turn around the program a couple of years after Lambert graduated, and he was successful beyond anybody’s expectations. Kansas State became a perennial powerhouse over the next decade and a second revitalization has the Wildcats ranked firmly in the Top 20.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been back there for a game,” said Lambert, whose father plans to be in attendance. “The place is completely different. They’ve added a lot to the stadium, built a new building in the end zone. It’s going to be emotional. I’m looking forward to it. But it’s really about these guys on the field and what we have to do to win the game.”

In two words: everything right.

The 49ers lost to Eastern Michigan in their opener last weekend, while the Wildcats romped to a 55-19 victory over Central Arkansas in which a team known for the run showed off a high-powered aerial assault.

Jesse Ertz threw for 333 yards and tied a school record with four touchdown passes, three of those of at least 50 yards. His quarterback rating of 319.8 made him the most efficient nationally.

“He certainly had help,” Snyder said, “but I thought he managed the game well. When he had to run the ball, he ran the ball fine. I thought he threw the ball with very fine accuracy most of the time.”

Not everything was perfect, of course. The Wildcats struggled to run the ball behind Ertz and Alex Barnes, and they likewise had all kinds of trouble stopping the Bears’ option offense.

That just happens to be the kind of offense Charlotte brings to town.

“They are very similar to Central Arkansas. They have a talented and athletic quarterback,” Kansas State defensive back Brogan Barry said. “That is going to be our key to holding them. It’s very similar, but they definitely have a lot of talent, especially at quarterback.”

Here are some other things to watch for when the 49ers and Wildcats meet Saturday:

MORE HOME COOKING: Charlotte defensive coordinator Matt Wallerstedt also went to Kansas State and spent time coaching linebackers under Ron Prince, who took over when Snyder briefly retired. Wallerstedt got his coaching start as a graduate assistant at Kansas State in 1988.

DEFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS: Kansas State allowed 16 points in the first half to Central Arkansas, but just a field goal after the break.

“They gave us a little different look than we thought we were going to get. The coaches made some adjustments,” Wildcats linebacker Elijah Sullivan said. “We had to get lined up real quick and just go out and play football. That’s what it was.”

THAT QB CAN RUN: Ertz ran for more than 1,000 yards for Kansas State last season, while 49ers QB Hasaan Klugh topped 100 yards rushing last week. It was his 51-yard scamper that set up a touchdown pass for Charlotte’s only points in a 24-7 defeat.

“The key to their offense is the quarterback. He is very talented,” Snyder said. “They have option football, which was a nemesis for us last week. We have got to work that out, and that is just becoming more responsible.”

SPREAD THE WEALTH: Kansas State had seven different players reach the end zone last week, including four different wide receivers.

“It’s a lot of fun, especially seeing how your hard work pays off,” said Dalton Schoen, who had a 70-yard TD catch. “It’s a blast playing out there.”

TUNE IT UP: The Wildcats might view the 49ers as a final tuneup before the season really begins with a trip to Vanderbilt. After that SEC test comes the start of the nine-game Big 12 schedule.

Rangers Insider preview: What high school football means to Texas

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs surprised just about everyone with their season-opening win in New England, especially the reigning Super Bowl champs, who had their festive night celebrating another Lombardi Trophy spoiled by Alex Smith and Co.

Most surprising, though, was how the Chiefs sprung the upset.

The defending AFC West champions were expected to keep games close this season with their ferocious defense, led by pass rusher Justin Houston and Dee Ford. But it was an offense with Smith under center and youngsters such as Tyreek Hill and rooking running back Kareem Hunt that managed to outduel Tom Brady and his star-studded supporting cast in a 42-27 victory in Foxborough.

“You want to be multidimensional, right?” said Smith, who threw for 368 yards and four touchdowns in arguably his best game with the Chiefs. “You want to be able to spread the ball vertically. You want to be able to run, pass and spread it out horizontally as well. You want to be able to be good at all these different things. Inside the tackles, outside the tackles, all those things.

“You want to be well-rounded,” he said. “I think that makes you tough to defend.”

The Chiefs were certainly well-rounded. And they were a nightmare to defend.

Smith became just the second quarterback to throw for at least 300 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in the nearly two decades that Bill Belichick has been the Patriots’ coach. And it was the first 300-yard passing game by Smith in nearly two years.

Hunt, just the sixth running back to start an opener in franchise history, ran for 148 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 98 yards and two more scores. The third-round pick’s 246 yards from scrimmage were the most by a player in his first game in NFL history.

Hill had seven catches for 133 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown catch, in his first game as the Chiefs’ No. 1 wide receiver. His TD catch gave him five consecutive regular-season games with a play of 60 or more yards, the first player in NFL history to accomplish that feat.

Put that offensive trio together and it’s the first time since 2009 that the Chiefs have had a 300-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard receiver in the same game.

“It was a huge game for us. We wanted to start off on the right foot,” Hunt said. “The whole team played great, especially the offensive line. Those guys were making holes all night. I was able to find creases and run hard behind those guys, especially after I started slow.”

For all the positives, it was still an imperfect performance.

Hunt fumbled on the Chiefs’ first offensive play, something he did only once during his entire college career at Toledo. They had an unsightly 15 penalties for 139 yards. And their defense failed to force a turnover of its own, though it did make a couple of key stops on fourth down.

The biggest downside, though, was the torn Achilles tendon safety Eric Berry sustained in the fourth quarter. Berry was playing his first game since signing a six-year, $78 million deal, and had been having a standout game not only stopping the run, but also holding Rob Gronkowski in check.

“He will be out,” Reid confirmed Friday. “Eric won’t be playing.”

At least the Chiefs have some time to consider their options. Their victory Thursday night means they have a few extra days to get ready for their home opener against Philadelphia on Sept. 17.

And while the Chiefs intend to spend time enjoying a tone-setting win over the Patriots, Smith made it clear that attention will swing swiftly to the next game on the schedule.

“Just because you do it one night doesn’t mean it will just carry over,” he said. “You have to find a way to beat the next opponent and the unique challenge they present.”

ATLANTA (AP) We’ve been through this before.

Everyone swinging for the fences.

Balls flying out of the park.

Fans presumably gushing over the tape-measure spectacle (because, you know, chicks did the long ball).

Sorry, we’ll take a pass on this bandwagon.

As baseball heads toward a record-obliterating season for home runs – yes, a power display that eclipses even the height of the steroid era – one can’t help but wonder if it’s all on the up and up.

Granted, baseball now has a serious drug-testing plan, something that didn’t exist at all during the heyday of Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire, but no one can ever know with certainty that it’s weeded out all the chemically enhanced sluggers.

Doping is a battle that’s never really won. The best one can hope for is maintaining a slight edge over the would-be cheaters.

”You don’t want people to be skeptical,” said Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly, who has the game’s top slugger at the moment, Giancarlo Stanton . ”I think what fans really want to know – they love greatness, they love seeing the ball go out of the ballpark, you love seeing athletes in all sports do great and do great things – but I think as a fan, and I include myself in that, you want to know it’s coming through hard work and dedication and talent. Not any other help.”

Beyond that, the emphasis on hitting the ball out of the park – by everyone from mammoth outfielders to light-hitting shortstops – raises another issue that is troubling to the long-term health of the national pastime.

A game that should be filled with nuance and infinite possibilities has become something akin to slow-pitch softball, the lineups filled from top to bottom with beefy guys who do nothing more than swing from their heels on every pitch.

If everyone is hitting the long ball, it’s it really all that exciting?

Take the Texas Rangers , who heading into Friday were leading the majors with 218 homers and, in an interesting twist, stopped by Atlanta this week for a series against Braves.

This, of course, is the home of Hank Aaron, whose statue adorns a place of honor in new SunTrust Park and remains the true home run king in our books. So perhaps it wouldn’t have seemed out of place to say the Rangers are faithfully carrying on the Hammer’s power-hitting legacy.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Rangers’ lineup features Joey Gallo, who leads the team with 37 homers but is hitting barely above the Mendoza Line (.211) with a whopping 162 strikeouts. He’s hardly alone. Texas also has Mike Napoli (.196, 29 homers, 155 strikeouts) and Rougned Odor (.213, 28 homers, 137 strikeouts), who are following much the same blueprint every time they step to the plate.

Knock it out of the park or go down swinging as hard as you can.

Compare that with Aaron, who in addition to 755 homers finished with a career average of .305 and never struck out as many as 100 times in any of his 23 seasons.

”Nobody worries about average or striking out. They don’t care about that,” said Hall of Famer Tony Perez, a slugger in his era but someone who hit as many as 30 homers only twice in his career. ”They just want to hit home runs. I guess that pays better.”

The Rangers were followed into Atlanta by Stanton, who is on a home run quest himself. The 6-foot-6, 245-pounder went into Friday’s game with 53 homers and still has a shot at reaching Roger Maris’ non-steroid season record of 61. That mark appeals to Stanton the most, certainly more so than Bonds’ almost-comical 73 homers in 2001 during the steroid era.

”When you grow up watching all the old films of Babe Ruth and (Mickey) Mantle and those guys, 61 has always been that printed number,” Stanton said a few weeks ago.

Yet any admiration for Stanton’s brilliant season is at least partly offset by the reality that all these sluggers are making the game even more unwatchable than it already was, the game slowing to a pace that makes chess seem action-packed by comparison. You’ve got overly cautious pitchers laboring over every throw, knowing they can’t afford any mistakes. You’ve got one-dimensional hitters flailing away at anything close to the plate, willing to whiff most of the time for the chance to occasionally knock one into another ZIP code.

When Atlanta’s Julio Teheran faced the Rangers this week, he had a season-high five walks in five innings.

Without question, the increase in homers borders on alarming. After Thursday’s games, with a little over three weeks left in the regular season, teams had combined to hit 5,329 homers and were on pace to finish with 6,169. That would shatter the record of 5,693 homers set in 2000, when we know plenty of hitters were juicing.

More dramatically, it would be a 47 percent increase over the 4,186 homers that were hit just three seasons ago, when power numbers bottomed out after a steady decline undoubtedly spurred along by tougher and tougher drug-testing rules. By comparison, it took hitters a full decade to pull off a similar increase to reach that tainted 2000 total.

There are plenty of explanations for the stunning increase, from an increased emphasis on hitting fly balls – which certainly has lots of merit – to an unconfirmed belief that the ball is livelier.

”You can just tell it’s harder. You can feel it,” Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson said. ”It’s pretty easy to tell the difference for someone who plays.”

Whatever the case, we all hope this power surge is legit.

Baseball can hardly afford another doping scandal.

And, while we’re at it, let’s have a few less guys swinging for the fences.

You know, singles and doubles can be exciting, too.

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Paul Newberry is a sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at pnewberry(at)ap.org or at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paul%20newberry

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AP Sports Writer Charles Odum contributed to this report.

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For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Virginia cleared its first hurdle of the season with ease against William & Mary of the FCS in the Cavaliers’ opener. Now the Cavs face the challenge of repeating the performance against a Power Five opponent.

Virginia hosts Indiana on Saturday in a battle of programs hoping to show they are on the rise.

The Hoosiers, in their first full season under coach Tom Allen, led No. 2 Ohio State 21-20 late in the third quarter of their opener before falling 49-21. Richard Lagow threw for 410 yards and three touchdowns, completing 40 of a program-record 65 attempts. He also was intercepted twice and sacked five times for minus 29 yards.

Allen, who became the head coach before Indiana faced Utah in the Foster Farms Bowl last December, said his team’s inability to finish the job against the Buckeyes was “very frustrating and disappointing and not acceptable.” He did say there were positives in the loss as well, which the Hoosiers hope to build on against the Cavaliers.

Virginia is undergoing a culture change of its own in its second season under Bronco Mendenhall, and transfer right tackle Brandon Pertile said beating the Tribe brought relief and hope that the success will blossom.

A year ago, the Cavaliers were manhandled 37-20 by Richmond, also of the FCS, in Mendenhall’s debut.

“I kind of felt like a lot of guys exhaled. A lot of the guys returning were not nervous about the game, but just anxious to get back out there and kind of erase last season’s stigma around us,” said Pertile, who transferred from Oklahoma State as a graduate student after last year. “And I felt like when we got in the locker room, a lot of guys did that after the game and they were exhaling with a good thing to build off of towards Week 2.”

Now, Mendenhall said, they’ll face a team that will serve as more of a measuring stick.

“I watched them play in a bowl game a year ago,” he said of the game, won 26-24 by Utah. “That’s not by accident. It’s a good league, they’re a good team, and I mean our players are smart. Again, we use the phrase, ‘Real recognizes real.’ They only have to watch a series or two of film and they know that it’s a good team.”

Some things to watch when Indiana visits Virginia:

AIR SHOW: Virginia’s Kurt Benkert had a very efficient opener, completing 27 of 39 throws for 262 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He was also sacked three times. With both quarterbacks such major parts of the offense, the team that can protect the best, or get a complementary ground game going, will have a distinct advantage. The Cavaliers managed just 82 rushing yards against the Tribe, and Indiana just 17 against Ohio State.

DYNAMIC DUO: Simmie Cobbs Jr. (11 catches, 149 yards, touchdown) and Luke Timian (10 for 72 yards) became the third duo in Hoosiers history to record double-digit receptions in the same game. The game marked a return to action for Cobbs after he missed almost all of last season with an injury, and it came after Nick Westbrook, the leading returning receiver from a year ago (54 catches for 995 yards), sustained a season-ending ACL injury on the game’s opening kickoff.

PACE: The Hoosiers ran 95 offensive plays against Ohio State, or 41 more than the Cavaliers faced against William & Mary. Substituting to keep the defense fresh figures to be a challenge for Virginia.

JUST FOR KICKS: Mendenhall blamed the snap-and-hold dynamic for a missed 42-yard field goal try by A.J. Mejia against the Tribe, but placekicking remains an issue for the Cavaliers. They made just five field goals all of last season and went for it on fourth down four times after Mejia’s miss. Indiana’s Griffin Oakes, by contrast, is in his third season as the Hoosiers’ placekicker and has made 53 of 73 career attempts, with a long of 58 yards.

HISTORY: Virginia has won both prior meetings, including a 47-7 rout when the Hoosiers visited in 2009. The Cavaliers prevailed 34-31 two years later at Indiana, and the Hoosiers are 6-14 against ACC schools.

The internet is a magical place for sports.

On Sept. 12 and 13, the LA Kings will host the Las Vegas Golden Knights for Rookie Games.

And both contests can be seen at LAKings.com.

The Kings’ top pick in the 2017 NHL Draft (11th overall) Gabriel Vilardi will not participate as he deals with a back injury.

Rookie Camp got underway on Friday in El Segundo. Tickets are available for both games, on the day of the game, for $10.

https://t.co/TW56yuagyG to stream Rookie Camp contests next week between Kings and new Vegas Golden Knights. https://t.co/PhyZI77lAK

— LAKingsPR (@LAKingsPR) September 8, 2017

PARIS (AP) Despite playing with 10 men for nearly an hour, Lille managed to draw 0-0 with Bordeaux in a French league match Friday with few chances for both teams.

Lille got off a strong start and dominated until Thiago Maia, who had already been booked, was sent off after a reckless challenge on Malcom after 32 minutes, hitting the Bordeaux striker in the head with his leg.

Nicolas de Preville, who joined Bordeaux from Lille in the closing hours of the transfer market, went close with a diving header in the 41st minute. Younousse Sankhare had the match’s best chance with 20 minutes left.

Sankhare, another former Lille player, played a one-two with Cafu that unsettled the hosts’ defense but the midfielder missed his effort from close range.

Unbeaten in its last 12 league matches, Bordeaux moved to third place with nine points from five matches, with Lille four points behind.

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Everything that Kansas coach David Beaty envisioned when he landed junior college transfer Peyton Bender and plucked offensive coordinator Doug Meacham from TCU manifested itself in the first quarter of the Jayhawks’ season-opening rout of Southeast Missouri State.

There was the 77-yard touchdown pass to Steven Sims Jr. that set the tone in the opening minutes, then the short touchdown pass to Chase Harrell that proved the first score was no fluke.

Bender proceeded to throw two more touchdown passes and finished with 364 yards through the air in the kind of performance not seen at Kansas since Todd Reesing was running the show.

“Coach Meacham did a great job with the game plan, getting everybody involved. I just went through my reads, and went through my progressions,” said Bender, who won a tight race with Carter Stanley for the starting job in fall camp. “You know, that’s how the offense is supposed to work.”

It just hasn’t worked that way in quite a while.

The Jayhawks, who hope to duplicate the effort against Central Michigan on Saturday, have struggled the past couple of years to fully implement Beaty’s “Air Raid” offense. But with Meacham barking at guys on the sideline, the Jayhawks finally showed some offensive explosiveness in a 38-16 victory.

“I mean, worth every penny,” Beaty said of his new assistant. “The guy’s really good. He’s really good. I was talking to some people about that, just watching his poise on game day and how he manages.”

Bender and Meacham could have their work cut out for them this Saturday. The Chippewas picked off six passes — and needed every one of them — in a season-opening, triple-overtime victory over Rhode Island. Justin Cox and Amari Coleman each had two picks.

“All around I thought our defense played amazing, they did really well with (the offense) not getting into the end zone as many times as we wanted to,” Central Michigan quarterback Shane Morris said. “They did a great job. Six picks. Unbelievable. I’ve never been part of a game like that.”

As the Jayhawks and Chippewas meet Saturday, here are some things to watch:

GROUND GAME, PART I: Central Michigan’s Jonathan Ward ran for 147 yards and a touchdown, and Devon Spaulding added 70 yards on 20 carries and the winning score in the final overtime. But the 246 yards on the ground by Central Michigan were offset by four fumbles, three of which were lost.

GROUND GAME, PART II: Kansas managed only 73 yards rushing against the Redhawks, despite trying out five different running backs.

“You know, we’re going to need them all,” Beaty said. “We’re pretty blessed right now, if we can keep them healthy and keep them upright, that we’ve got some talented guys.”

MULTIPLE PASSERS: Morris, a graduate transfer from Michigan, gave way to Central Michigan freshman Tony Poljan for a couple series. Chippewas coach John Bonamego said that was by design.

“The plan was to use Tony more,” Bonamego said. “I thought Tony did a decent job when he was in there.”

NOT ANOTHER JOE: After missing most of last season with an injury, Kansas linebacker Joe Dineen Jr. returned to pile up 15 tackles last weekend. That earned him the Big 12’s defensive player of the week award.

“I’m sure it means a lot to him,” fellow linebacker Keith Loneker Jr. said. “He’s the type of guy that doesn’t think about that type of stuff. He just expects it. That’s what I love about Joe.”

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS: Kansas allowed 264 yards to Southeast Missouri State last week, or 3.4 per play. That’s the lowest average for a Jayhawks defense since the 2010 opener against North Dakota State.

“I thought our defense was on the field way too much last week. And the good thing is, as we look at it, almost every bit of it was self-imposed,” Beaty said. “It wasn’t like we were necessarily just overmatched. There wasn’t much we could do. It was pretty much all of us, right?”

PARIS (AP) Despite playing with 10 men for nearly an hour, Lille managed to draw 0-0 with Bordeaux in a French league match Friday with few chances for both teams.

Lille got off a strong start and dominated until Thiago Maia, who had already been booked, was sent off after a reckless challenge on Malcom after 32 minutes, hitting the Bordeaux striker in the head with his leg.

Nicolas de Preville, who joined Bordeaux from Lille in the closing hours of the transfer market, went close with a diving header in the 41st minute. Younousse Sankhare had the match’s best chance with 20 minutes left.

Sankhare, another former Lille player, played a one-two with Cafu that unsettled the hosts’ defense but the midfielder missed his effort from close range.

Unbeaten in its last 12 league matches, Bordeaux moved to third place with nine points from five matches, with Lille four points behind.

METAIRIE, La. (AP) Willie Snead’s recent suspension, combined with the offseason trade of Brandin Cooks, means Saints quarterback Drew Brees is currently without two of his top three receiving targets from last season.

The first look at Brees’ and coach Sean Payton’s adjustment to changing personnel in New Orleans’ passing game comes Monday night in Minnesota.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer worked with Payton when both were assistants in Dallas and is familiar enough with Brees’ work to conclude that a New Orleans passing game that ranked first in the NFL last season remains a concern for his defense, even with different personnel.

”Snead is a good player and made a lot of catches for Drew, but Drew has a lot of weapons. That offense hasn’t been number one in the league for the last three years because of one guy, so they are always tough to defend,” Zimmer said this week. ”Whether they have Willie Snead or anybody else.”

”They have all kinds of weapons, so (Drew) may be disappointed he has one less, but he’s still got a lot of bullets in that gun,” Zimmer said.

Cooks led New Orleans in yards receiving last season with 1,173 and his eight touchdown catches were second on the club behind only Thomas’ nine. Snead’s 72 catches and 895 yards receiving both ranked third on the club last season.

Brees noted that while Cooks is an excellent receiver, the club traded him back in March and began planning for life without him then.

”We have been moving along with the guys that we have and feel very good about that,” Brees said.

Losing Snead, Brees said, ”was tough and he’s a big part of what we do offensively,” but added, ”The guys that will step into that role will do a good job.”

Thomas, who had 1,137 yards and nine TDs as a rookie, has only looked better in camp, and the Vikings expect him to be a difficult cover.

”Him and Drew have great, great communication. It’s awesome,” Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes said, complimenting the way Brees and Thomas connect on back-shoulder throws. ”Drew Brees is going to make tough throws for us to get to, and Michael Thomas, he’s good at adjusting to the ball.”

Two players who could see more action are fourth-year pro Brandon Coleman and second-year player Tommylee Lewis. At 6-foot-6, Coleman gives Brees a big target, while the 5-7 Lewis is a speedier, more agile option.

”Brandon Coleman has been in it and seen quite a bit of action and then of course Tommylee is going into his second year hadn’t had quite the exposure or the amount of snaps, but both of those guys are going to play and play a lot,” Payton predicted. ”They are different in their skill sets and we’ve got to have the right role in place for them to have success.”

Coleman, a former undrafted free agent out of Rutgers in 2014, has said this summer that he figures he’s running short on chances to prove he belongs long-term.

”Obviously, I’m growing and that’s a part of it,” Coleman said. ”They kept me here because they see potential in me, so it’s time.”

In designing offensive schemes, Payton has been recognized for his ability to find matchups maximizing the strengths of whichever players are available to him.

This week, there could be more passes for running backs Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara or even Adrian Peterson. New Orleans also comes into the game with three healthy veteran tight ends in Fleener, Josh Hill and Michael Hoomanawanui.

Hill wasn’t about to divulge whether Payton might emphasize the Saints’ full complement of tight ends in this week’s passing game plan, but didn’t rule out it.

”That’s one of his strong points is he moves guys in position to be successful. He’s obviously one of the best at doing so,” Hill said of Payton. ”He’ll do his thing with the game plan and we’ll make the plays when they come to us. You can expect anything with this offense.”

Donald has stayed away from the Rams since offseason team activities. The team has described talks with Donald as civil and constructive for several months, but the sides clearly aren’t close to a compromise.

With two years left on his rookie contract, Donald is believed to be seeking a deal to make him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. The disruptive defensive tackle is a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

Donald is due to make $1.8 million this season. He will start missing game checks Sunday.

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More AP NFL: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State has taken steps to upgrade its defense after spending the past two seasons watching opponents reel in one big play after another.

It’s still a work in progress and a big test comes this weekend.

A week after giving up 549 yards to New Mexico State, the Sun Devils face run-heavy San Diego State and its terrific tailback, Rashaad Penny.

“It’s just old school, kind of a blend between what Stanford and what Boise has done in the past,” Arizona State coach Todd Graham said. “They are going to ground and pound, run play action passes and have had great tailbacks.”

Arizona State (1-0) had the FBS’ worst passing defense each of the past two seasons and hoped for an improvement this season despite playing new cornerbacks. The cornerbacks, Kobe Williams and Joe Bryant, each had key interceptions in last week’s 37-31 season-opening win over New Mexico State, but the Sun Devils again gave up big plays.

New Mexico State rolled up 549 yards of total offense against Arizona State, including 398 yards passing by Tyler Rogers and 151 yards on 30 carries as a team.

The Sun Devils played their starters the entire first half and well into the second, but were well in control of the game heading into the fourth quarter. The Aggies managed to cut into Arizona State’s lead with a string of chunk plays in the final quarter, though, including a 50-yard touchdown run by Jason Huntley.

The stakes will be raised on Saturday.

San Diego State was seventh nationally in rushing offense last season and Penny ran for over 1,000 yards as a backup to Donnel Pumphrey. Penny ran for 197 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 38-17 win over UC Davis last week, helping the Aztecs churn up 276 yards on the ground.

In other words, the Sun Devils could have their hands full.

A few more things to look for when Arizona State hosts San Diego State on Saturday night:

PLAYING THE PAC-12: San Diego State coach Rocky Long likes the challenge of playing against teams from the Pac-12 conference, even if the Aggies have not had much success doing it. San Diego State is 2-16 against the Pac-12 since 2000, but both wins came under Long, including a wild, 45-40 win over California last season. The Aztecs host Stanford next week before opening Mountain West Conference play against Air Force. “Putting (Pac-12 teams) on our schedule is a big deal to us because it’s an opportunity game,” Long told reporters this week. “That was my suggestion because I think in the long run, as college football develops, you better prove that you can compete.”

WILKINS’ RETURN: Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkins had a strong return from an injury-plagued 2016 season. The junior threw for 300 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while extending plays with his legs. Wilkins also avoided taking hard hits, an issue that led to some of the injuries last season, but he also held the ball too long at times. Arizona State had issues protecting him as well.

AZTECS AND TURNOVERS: San Diego State has had a knack for forcing turnovers under Long, ranking second nationally in 2015 and fifth last season. The Aztecs, who run a 3-3-5 defense, had two interceptions and recovered a fumble against UC Davis. Graham preaches ball protection as a top priority every week and it will be particularly important Saturday.

RUNNING DEVILS: Arizona State was expected to have one of the Pac-12’s best 1-2 running back punches this season, but only had one at its disposal against New Mexico State. Senior Demario Richard was limited to one carry against New Mexico State, spending the rest of the game on or near the training table with a right leg injury. He returned to practice this week, so could return for Saturday’s game. Kalen Ballage managed pretty well without his running mate, scoring two touchdowns while rushing for 79 yards.

As we near the end of the fantasy baseball season, we’ll take a look at players’ value for the 2018 season in addition to a few nuggets helping you to finish strong. First, we’ll have to touch on another new rookie that’s looking impressive before covering two rebounding players and another injury disappointment.

CHEERS

Harrison Bader, STL – Everyone still alive in Fantasy Baseball is wondering who this Bader kid is. In just two weeks, Bader is hitting .310 with a .571 SLG percentage thanks to three home runs in 12 games. While Bader has been hot since his arrival, he’s still striking out a lot (32.6 percent) which should have you concerned, as should the fact that the PCL inflates minor league hitting numbers. The good news is that Bader has long-term potential matching Magglio Ordonez with mid-20 home run power and mid-teen stolen bases. Bader’s swing is a bit flat and he struggles against righties. That’s led to above average strikeout rates throughout his career. Bader won’t stay this hot through the end of the season, but he has the potential to hit .270 with 80-plus Runs and RBIs added to those home run and stolen base numbers. I did say ”potential,” so keep Bader in mind next year, as your OF3/4 with upside for a better return.

Kevin Kiermaier, TB – Kiermaier is back – both for the Rays and as the Fantasy player owners expected to see when they drafted him this year. Unfortunately, Kiermaier started slow and then heated up in May, only to hit the DL early in June. Fortunately, if you were able to stash him on the DL, Kiermaier is hitting .360 with four HRs, three SBs, 16 Runs and 14 RBIs since returning on August 18. Now that’s what owners were expecting! Smart owners saw Kiermaier’s potential from last season and knew he had the potential for a solid average with 20-plus HRs, 30-plus SBs and the Runs and RBIs that come with that. Kiermaier had Top 20 outfielder potential, and truthfully, he still does. The one flaw surrounding Kiermaier is his health, as he has just one season with more than 120 games played and only one with more than 108 games in the majors. Savvy players will be on Kiermaier again next year, and you should be as well. Draft him as an OF3 with that same potential if he can just stay healthy.

Justin Verlander, HOU – Verlander is back. well, he’s arrived for the Astros but continued his late-season rebound with a great first start for his new team. Over his last four starts, Verlander is 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 27 innings. While Verlander isn’t going to pitch to a sub-2.00 ERA, it’s nice to see his xFIP at 2.71, meaning it’s not all luck driven success. Verlander has dropped his walks, which have plagued him this season. He has a 3.4 BB/9 for the year, even with a low 1.7 mark in those starts. This will be critical to Verlander’s continued success, as Houston is a bit less favorable than Detroit for ballparks, and Verlander continues to struggle with home runs. Looking toward 2018, Verlander isn’t on the SP1 tier anymore, even if he finishes the season pitching this well. Verlander is more like the pitcher we saw last year with a higher WHIP and a tendency for more poor outings. He’s a modest SP2.

TEARS

Yoenis Cespedes, NYM – Cespedes’ season ended two weeks ago, but what does that mean for 2018? The good news is that Cespedes was on pace for 33 home runs, 90 Runs and 82 RBIs to go with a .292 average over 159 games. The bad news is that Cespedes has only played 159 games once. In fact, since that 2015 season, Cespedes has missed 111 games the last two years, including half of this season. Cespedes always had Top 15 outfielder potential, and even neared that value even while playing just 132 games last year. However, home runs increased significantly this season, which lessens the value of 33 home runs. Just look at how little interest and trade value the Mets got back for Jay Bruce. Given Cespedes’ high injury risk, he’s simply not worth the gamble as a Top 15, even 25, outfielder next year. In fact, I don’t think I’d be comfortable with him as more than my OF3.

STREAMING PITCHERS

The Brewers continue to lead the league in strikeout percentage over the last 30 days and are scoring less than usual. They are a good team to target when streaming pitchers. The Rays and Padres also haven’t found their way out of their funks, and strike out more than most while putting up low runs totals. On the other hand, the Angels continue their playoff push and added Justin Upton, while the Twins are right their keeping chase in the standings and with their bats. Avoid both hot lineups for now.

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This column was provided to The Associated Press by Jake Ciely of the Fantasy Sports Network, http://FNTSY.com

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) The Texas A&M Aggies are desperate to put their stunning loss to UCLA in their opener behind them when they host Nicholls State on Saturday.

They’ll have to do it with a new quarterback after Nick Starkel broke his ankle against the Bruins and is expected to be out for the rest of the season. Starkel was injured early in Sunday’s game and true freshman Kellen Mond struggled as the Aggies blew a 34-point, third-quarter lead in the 45-44 loss.

”I’m confident with how we’re going to bounce back,” receiver Christian Kirk said. ”The most important thing right now is putting it in the past and moving on. We’ve still got a long season ahead of us and there’s no time to dwell.”

It was a long week in College Station, with fresh questions about coach Kevin Sumlin’s future after the Aggies went 8-5 in each of the last three seasons after opening 5-0 each time. A member of the system’s board of regents called for his firing after the game and then Sumlin’s wife said a racist, threatening letter calling for Sumlin to go ”or else ” was delivered to their home.

Sumlin, who has three years and $15 million left on his contract, insists that he ignores any outside talk about him and his team.

”My focus is on what we can do to be better,” he said. ”I really don’t have time to get involved with things that are said about the program.”

Both Mond and Jake Hubenak will play on Saturday, but Sumlin wouldn’t say who will start. He noted that it will be important for the team to get a good look at both players in Saturday’s game and next week’s against Louisiana-Lafayette before the Aggies open Southeastern Conference play against Arkansas on Sept. 23.

Sumlin said he chose not to play Hubenak against UCLA because he wanted to try and get Mond in a rhythm.

”Kellen had been in the game and was in the flow to play,” Sumlin said. ”Kellen brought some other things to the table. He made first downs with his legs that some other guys probably couldn’t make. He made some freshman mistakes, but we were able to make some first downs and take some time off the clock and feel comfortable with that.”

Mond was just 3 of 17 for 27 yards, but ran for 54 yards on 14 carries. Kirk knows that he and the rest of the receivers need to do more to help the quarterbacks succeed.

”I was getting doubled the majority of the game and there’s opportunities for some of the young guys to step up,” he said. ”It was their first game. I’m sure there were some nerves going on and we’ve just got to get past that”

RUNNING WILD

Since Sumlin took over in 2012, the Aggies have been known for their potent passing game. With inexperience at quarterback this season, it could be the running game that stars in this offense. Trayveon Williams and Keith Ford starred against the Bruins, combining for 317 yards rushing and five scores. Williams, who became the first true freshman in school history to rush for 1,000 yards last season, had 203 yards and two touchdowns and Ford added 114 yards and three scores.

LOOKING FOR NO. 4

Nicholls State is 3-27 in 30 meetings with FBS teams since 2000, and has dropped both of its games to teams from the SEC. The Colonels beat Rice in 2007, Arkansas State in 2011 and their last win over an FBS school came when they beat Western Michigan in 2013. Nicholls State had a tough time with Arkansas in 2014, falling 73-7 to the Razorbacks. But they gave Georgia a scare last season before the Bulldogs outlasted them 26-24.

HARVEY RELIEF

The Aggies offered free tickets to Saturday’s game and next week’s game against Louisiana-Lafayette to all victims of Hurricane Harvey as well as first-responders and volunteers. The school is also selling T-shirts to help in the relief effort and the team is wearing a decal on its helmets to honor those affected by the storm.

”Texas A&M University has always stood ready to help when called upon, and the events in Texas and the gulf coast present another opportunity for us to lend a hand,” athletic director Scott Woodward said. ”We want to provide a brief reprieve to all of those affected by this tragedy, as well as extend an expression of gratitude to all of the first-responders and volunteers that are working so hard to help the region return to normalcy.”

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More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25

CLEVELAND (AP) Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy, out nearly three months with a broken right wrist, has been activated from the 60-day disabled list.

Hardy was hit by a pitch on June 18 and placed on the DL the following day. He is batting .211 with three home runs and 21 RBIs in 64 games and recently completed a minor league rehab assignment.

Tim Beckham, acquired from Tampa Bay at the trade deadline, has taken over the shortstop duties. He’s batting .359 with seven homers and 20 RBIs since the trade.

Left-hander Andrew Faulkner, who had been pitching at Triple-A Norfolk, was designated for assignment.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Tracy McGrady says the celebration of his induction in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has been muted by the impact of Hurricane Harvey on his family and neighbors in Texas.

The seven-time NBA All Star and two-time league scoring champion is among 11 basketball greats enshrined Friday in Springfield.

“Although this weekend is awesome, I’m humbled, I’m honored, what I left behind is way more important,” McGrady said. “Way more important.”

McGrady said his estate in Sugar Land, Texas, suffered only minor damage from the storm, allowing him and his wife to take in the families of five relatives and friends for three days after mandatory evacuations. He also put on a Labor Day feast at a church in the Houston area for about 800 victims of the storm.

“My sister was at the house, and I was trying to take her home and driving to her house. Just seeing cars under water and you don’t know if people are in there — it’s real,” he said. “I’m being as vocal and proactive as I can.”

Inductee Mannie Jackson talked about being born in a box car in Missouri and rising to become a player and later owner of the Harlem Globetrotters.

“It’s great to have two of us going in on the same day,” McGraw said. “Hopefully, in the future, there will be more.”

Kansas men’s coach Bill Self, 54, said he feels a little uncomfortable being enshrined in the middle of his career, which includes nine 30-win seasons and an NCAA championship in 2008.

“I hope it doesn’t mean that I’m on my last leg yet,” he said. “I think this will be motivation to try and validate it, always. I’ll work harder now that ever to validate being thought of with these other fraternity members.”

Others honored Friday include former ABA and NBA star George McGinnis, Texas high school coach Robert Hughes, NCAA administrator Tom Jernstedt and former European star Nick Galis. Former Chicago Bull’s general manager Jerry Krause, who died in March and former Globetrotters and New York Rens player Zack Clayton are being honored posthumously.

Jernstedt, credited with overseeing the growth of the Division I men’s tournament and the creation of the women’s tournament, is impressed with the class.

“I didn’t know three of four of these people very well at all before, but the contributions they’ve made are so impressive,” he said. “Hopefully now, more people will understand that and reach out and learn more about them.”

NEW YORK (AP) The Latest on the U.S. Open, the last Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year (all times local):

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4:25 p.m.

Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain and Kevin Anderson of South Africa have started play in the first U.S. Open men’s semifinal.

It’s the furthest either man has ever gone in a Grand Slam tournament. The No. 12-seeded Carreno Busta got to the final four easily, not dropping a set against five opponents ranked outside the top 30.

The U.S. Open hasn’t had a champion who didn’t drop a set since Neale Fraser in 1960.

Anderson, the No. 28 seed, has won both meetings.

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1:50 p.m.

The 12th-seeded team of Horia Tecau of Romania and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands won their first U.S. Open men’s doubles championship.

Tecau and Rojer defeated the 11th-seeded Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez 6-4, 6-3 in the final at Flushing Meadows on Friday.

This is the second Grand Slam title for Tecau and Rojer, who won Wimbledon in 2015.

Tecau and Rojer eliminated top-seeded Henri Kontinen and John Peers in the semifinals.

The two Lopezes, who are not related, won the 2016 French Open.

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1 p.m.

Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro will meet in one U.S. Open men’s semifinal. Pablo Carreno Busta and Kevin Anderson will play in the other.

The matches Friday offer quite a contrast in experience and name recognition.

Neither Carreno Busta nor Anderson has played in a semifinal at any Grand Slam tournament.

The other semifinal features a pair of past champions at Flushing Meadows. Nadal won the tournament in 2010 and 2013 for two of his 15 Grand Slam titles. Del Potro was the U.S. Open champion in 2009, when he beat Nadal in the semifinals and Roger Federer in the final.

This time, he takes on those two greats of the game in reverse order: del Potro beat Federer in the quarterfinals Wednesday.

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More AP tennis coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-Tennis

HAMBURG, Germany (AP) Timo Werner’s good week continued Friday with another goal to help Leipzig defeat Hamburger SV 2-0 away in the Bundesliga.

Werner, who scored twice in a man-of-the-match performance for Germany in a World Cup qualifier on Monday, sealed Leipzig’s second win from three games with a quarter hour remaining.

The visitors thought they had a penalty before the break when Deniz Aytekin pointed to the spot after Werner fell under Albin Ekdal’s challenge. Aytekin consulted his video assistant, however. TV replays showed Ekdal got the ball before making contact with Werner’s foot and the decision was reversed.

Naby Keita finally broke the deadlock with a fine strike from distance midway through the second half.

Hamburg coach Markus Gisdol brought on Sven Schipplock for a defensive midfielder and the move almost paid off immediately when Peter Gulacsi produced a brilliant save to deny the Hamburg forward an equalizer.

The home side was to rue the miss when Werner scored on the counterattack. Kevin Kampl sent the Germany striker through to race forward and the 21-year-old stayed cool in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

The Pro Bowl wide receiver has drawn the ire of NFL officials in recent years for his over-the-top touchdown celebrations. The NFL decided in the offseason to loosen the rules, leaving the free-wheeling Brown to put on a show whenever he reaches the end zone this season.

Brown says his dance plans are under wraps for now. The Steelers open the season in Cleveland this weekend. Brown says winning is more important than his pursuit of personal goals.

Brown is coming off the most productive four-year stretch by a receiver in league history but has yet to win a Super Bowl. Brown says that’s his main goal heading into the second half of his career.

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More AP NFL: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

Borg was pulled from UFC 215 because of a 'viral illness' Thursday night.

NEW YORK (AP) Dutch tennis player Jean-Julien Rojer wore a shirt showing the Statue of Liberty while winning the U.S. Open men’s doubles championship on Friday to send what he called a message about peace and freedom in the aftermath of last month’s violence at a rally of neo-Nazis and white nationalists in Charlottseville, Virginia.

”I just wanted to have the conversation going (by) promoting … freedom and justice, liberty, for everybody on gender issues, on racial issues, which we deal a lot with in this country,” said Rojer, who was born in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, and moved to Florida when he was 12 to work with a private coach.

”I feel in tennis we don’t say much about it, but this is just tennis,” Rojer said. ”We deal with real life issues out there.”

Rojer and his doubles partner, Horia Tecau of Romania, won their first title at Flushing Meadows by beating the 11th-seeded Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez 6-4, 6-3 in the final.

During the on-court trophy ceremony in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Rojer spoke about his yellow T-shirt with a black-and-white image of the Statue of Liberty and red, white and blue stripes across the chest. He said it’s part of a clothing line made by a friend of his.

”The idea came after the tragic incident in Charlottesville, and we came up with this line, promoting peace and freedom and liberty,” Rojer said. ”Hopefully we’re moving in that direction. I’ve been here since I’m 12 years old and I’m happy they let me in and I got to do my job here. So hopefully we will create those opportunities for everybody.”

Tecau said that professional athletes should feel free to state their political views.

”It’s nice to send this message and spread it, because you have a lot of people that look up to you. Jules is an outspoken guy. You know, he’ll talk more than other players, but I think as role models for the generations that are behind us, the young generation, it’s important to see that, as well,” Tecau said. ”We’re not just athletes competing, you know, for Slams and prize money and glory.”

Added Rojer, who was an All-American tennis player at UCLA: ”It’s important that everybody do their job or do their part, and that’s how you make either change or progress, because we do it. And maybe I change five people’s minds, you know. It’s a step in the right direction. … But we all have a platform and we have to be conscious of our actions and respectful of each other.”

This is the second Grand Slam title for the 12th-seeded Tecau and Rojer, who also won Wimbledon in 2015.

They are currently on a 10-match winning streak, including a victory over top-seeded Henri Kontinen and John Peers in the U.S. Open semifinals.

”It’s tough when you get to these matches. Tension, expectations, everything around. People start calling you. Messages. But you just try to stay focused (on) one more match,” Tecau said. ”That’s what we did so well towards the end of the tournament. Pushed each other to stay focused one more match and to execute.”

(STATS) – Nick DeLuca has worked hard to put himself in position to play a full game once again. Now, he might have to wait a little bit longer.

North Dakota State’s star linebacker is considered questionable for Saturday’s showdown with No. 7 Eastern Washington after suffering a knee injury in practice this week, according to NDSU assistant athletic director for communications Ryan Perreault. He added that DeLuca’s injury did not involve the anterior cruciate ligament and his status is still being evaluated.

Coming off a 2015 season in which he earned All-MVFC first-team honors, DeLuca had to watch the final 11 games last season because of a torn labrum he suffered in the season opener at the Fargodome against Charleston Southern. The 6-foot-3, 248-pounder underwent surgery after playing through the injury against EWU and Iowa, and he eased his way back last week by playing 15-20 snaps during the second-ranked Bison’s 72-7 win over Mississippi Valley State.

After receiving another year due to hardship, DeLuca was expected to play in a full game for the first time in almost a year Saturday.

TAMPA BAY RAYS PRESS RELEASE

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With Hurricane Irma causing severe weather conditions throughout Florida, Major League Baseball has moved the three-game series between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees from Tropicana Field to Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. As originally scheduled, the series will be played Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The Rays will be considered the home team and will bat last.

Watch the Tampa Bay Rays on FOX Sports Sun

“After much consideration, our games against the Yankees will be moved to Citi Field as Hurricane Irma approaches Florida,” said Rays President Brian Auld. “We are grateful to the Mets for opening their doors to us. We are most concerned with the safety of our fans, our families, friends and neighbors.”

Fans holding tickets to Rays-Yankees games at Tropicana Field should check raysbaseball.com/irma and all social media channels in coming days for information on exchanging their tickets or receiving a refund.

Information on purchasing tickets to these games at Citi Field, as well as media credentials, will be announced later.

Television broadcast information will be announced soon by FOX Sports Sun. All three games will air on the radio on WDAE 620 AM and in Spanish on WGES 680 AM.

The Yankees-Rays series schedule:Monday, September 11 7:10 p.m.Tuesday, September 12 7:10 p.m.Wednesday, September 13 1:10 p.m.

This will be the third time that Rays games have been affected by hurricanes. In 2004, Hurricane Frances caused the postponement of two home games vs. the Detroit Tigers (September 4-5), later made up as a doubleheader. On September 17, 2000, the Rays home game vs. the Oakland Athletics was postponed and never made up due to Hurricane Gordon.

This is believed to be only the fifth time in the history of Major League Baseball that weather concerns have required the relocation of games to a neutral site. Just last week, Tropicana Field hosted a three-game series between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros, due to the devastation in Houston caused by Hurricane Harvey. It previously happened September 14-15, 2008 (Chicago Cubs at Houston Astros, two games held at Miller Park in Milwaukee) due to Hurricane Ike, April 10-12, 2007 (Los Angeles Angels at Cleveland Indians, three games at Miller Park) due to snow and September 13-14, 2004 (Montreal Expos at Florida Marlins, two games at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago) due to Hurricane Ivan.

MINNEAPOLIS — When Adrian Peterson wore purple, the revered running back was naturally off limits for Minnesota’s defense during practice.

Such will be the strange sight in Minnesota on Monday night, when Peterson lines up in the New Orleans backfield with his white, black and gold Saints jersey and his old friends eagerly eyeing him up from the other side.

“Everson Griffen. Without a doubt,” Peterson said, predicting the Vikings player most interested in making contact with the franchise’s all-time leading rusher.

“He’s my boy, but we went back and forth in practice a lot, and he talks a lot of trash. I’m kind of quiet. I don’t say much. But he’ll be amped up to try to hit me.”

Griffen will have plenty of help, when the Vikings host Peterson and the Saints in a season opener overflowing with made-for-TV story lines.

“I’m not going to back down from him,” Rhodes said. “He told me that we’re going to see how that ends.”

How Peterson’s remarkable career concludes remains a mystery, though at age 32 it’s clearly in the twilight stage regardless of his freak-of-nature physical condition and lifelong spirit of determination.

He’ll start with the Saints as a part-time player, with the established Mark Ingram and the rookie Alvin Kamara sharing the carries and catches out of the backfield in this Drew Brees-led, pass-first offense.

“I think it’ll be an adjustment for a couple weeks going in, because I’m used to being in there at all times,” Peterson said, adding: “I knew what I was getting myself into. I know there’s going to be times when I carry the load and there’s going to be times when the load is not as heavy, you know?”

After Peterson was limited to 72 yards on 37 carries by a right knee injury and a leaky offensive line last season, the Vikings predictably declined the $18 million option on his contract and signed free agent Latavius Murray from Oakland instead.

Then they drafted Dalvin Cook out of Florida State. Peterson eventually picked the Saints for the opportunity to play close to his east Texas roots and suburban Houston home and behind the 10-time Pro Bowler Brees.

While Peterson will be plenty motivated in his return to Minnesota against a Vikings team not cool with him stealing their show, the prime-time kickoff and national TV audience for the start to another season will ultimately steer the emotions of the participants on both sides.

Brees led the NFL in passing yards for a record seventh time in 2016. In five games against the Vikings, he’s 4-1 with a 69 percent completion rate and an average of 294 yards passing per game. He has only thrown four interceptions and been sacked four times.

“He’s got an unbelievable arm, too, but one of the things that sets him apart, I think, is he’s so quick getting rid of the football, knowing where to go to the different spots,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “He really is a Hall of Fame kind of quarterback.”

CENTER OF ATTENTION

The Vikings have a long history of excellence at the center position, dating to the arrival of eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame member Mick Tingelhoff in the franchise’s second season. Tingelhoff (six), Jeff Christy (two) and Matt Birk (six) combined for 14 selections for the Pro Bowl. Now third-round draft pick Pat Elflein will be the first rookie to start at center since Tingelhoff in 1962.

“You don’t want to stress yourself out and freak out and make it bigger than it is,” Elflein said. “Be excited, but don’t overexcite yourself.”

SLOW STARTS

The Saints have finished 7-9 after starting 1-3 in each of the past three seasons. They’ve lost three straight openers.

FORMER COLLEAGUES

Payton and Zimmer were once assistants together on the staff of coach Bill Parcells with the Dallas Cowboys, and both of them continue to call Parcells often for advice in their current role.

“He is a heck of a coach, smart,” Zimmer said. “We got a chance to go against each other every day at practice. He was very innovative.”

SITTING OUT

Brees will be without wide receiver Willie Snead, who’s suspended for the first three games. Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford will miss wide receiver Michael Floyd, who is facing a four-game suspension. Both punishments are for drunken driving offenses.

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Saints have won four straight in series, starting with NFC championship game after 2009 season. . . . RB Adrian Peterson makes Saints debut after 10 seasons and 11,747 yards rushing with Vikings. . . . Saints coach Sean Payton and Vikings coach Mike Zimmer were both assistants on Cowboys staff from 2003-05. . . . Saints QB Drew Brees 4-1 vs. Vikings, with 12 TD passes, four interceptions, four sacks, 69 percent completion rate and average of 294 yards passing per game. . . . Saints DE Cameron Jordan, son of former Vikings TE Steve Jordan, coming off fifth straight season with 7 sacks or more. . . . Saints have lost three consecutive season openers, starting 1-3 and finishing 7-9 each season. . . . Brees first player to lead NFL in passing yards seven times, with 5,208 last season that rank as fourth-most in history. . . . Saints could have new starters in more than half of defensive lineup, with free agents DE Alex Okafor and LB A.J. Klein and draft picks CB Marshon Lattimore and FS Marcus Williams the headline acquisitions. . . . With Peterson departed, rookie Dalvin Cook will start at RB for Vikings. . . . Pat Elflein will be first rookie to start at center for Vikings since Pro Football Hall of Fame member Mick Tingelhoff in 1962. . . . Vikings DE Everson Griffen has 30 sacks since 2014, fifth-most in league during that span. . . . Former Vikings WR Randy Moss, one of ESPN’s broadcast analysts, will be inducted in franchise’s Ring of Honor with halftime ceremony. . . . Fantasy Tip: With Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes likely matched with Saints WR Michael Thomas, Saints TE Coby Fleener and Saints WR Ted Ginn could be good plays with young Vikings CBs Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander in elevated roles this season.

As if there is any doubt given his fistful of Super Bowl rings, Tom Brady is the best quarterback in the NFL.

In the first of the weekly Associated Press position rankings for this season, Brady easily came out on top in voting by Pro Football Hall of Famer James Lofton and 10 AP football writers.

The New England star and four-time Super Bowl MVP still shines brightest even as he turns 40 – and despite struggling in the Patriots’ 42-27 opening loss to Kansas City. Brady received eight of the first-place votes in balloting before Thursday night’s game in a 10-points-to-one-point system, and he placed second with the other three voters for 107 points.

Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers was next at 94 points, getting three first-place choices and being second best on seven ballots, third on one.

Drew Brees of the Saints was third, followed by 2016 league MVP Matt Ryan of the Falcons and Seattle’s Russell Wilson.

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EDITOR’S NOTE – The Associated Press is ranking the top 10 players at a different position every week of the NFL season, based on the votes and insights of Pro Football Hall of Famer James Lofton and AP football writers Simmi Buttar, Dave Campbell, Schuyler Dixon, Josh Dubow, Howard Fendrich, Rob Maaddi, Arnie Stapleton, Teresa M. Walker, Dennis Waszak Jr., and Barry Wilner. This feature will move on Fridays.

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For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) Regardless of rookie Mitchell Trubisky’s inexperience, Chicago Bears coach John Fox has full confidence his backup quarterback can play effectively for starter Mike Glennon if needed Sunday in the opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

The ”it factor,” is one good reason.

Fox said Friday he saw leadership abilities in Trubisky after only a brief time, leading to a decision this week to designate the former North Carolina star as the backup to Glennon ahead of veteran Mark Sanchez.

”So I think very early on for us as coaches, I think we saw the tenacity with which he goes about it and the maturity with which he prepares,” Fox said. ”And then there’s just a kind of an `it factor,’ in how you relate to people around you and how people feed off you, that I think was pretty evident early, too.”

The Bears have touted their depth as being dramatically improved, and this goes for the quarterback position.

”We joke about next man up, but I’d feel pretty confident about Mitch playing in any game,” Fox said. ”You know, I want everybody to stay healthy though, let’s make that fact very clear.”

Trubisky wasn’t downplaying his ability to lead, or even the `it factor’ Fox says he has.

”Yeah, I kind of feel that,” Trubisky said. ”I guess it’s just how you carry yourself and how you respect your teammates, and in return they respect you as well.

”So I just go out there and give everything I got. I think my teammates know that and I think they know that I have a lot of love for them and I love playing this game.”

Fox earlier this week said Trubisky earned the promotion to backup rather than serving as a third-string developmental project like the team originally announced.

”I feel like I did,” Trubisky said. ”I worked really hard. I played pretty well in the preseason games and just continue to work and show that I’m prepared for this step in my career right now.”

Being a backup isn’t entirely an unknown feeling for Trubisky, the second pick in this year’s draft. He did it at North Carolina before becoming starter.

”I think you can take from that experience, preparing as a starter at all times and then just being ready to come off the bench at any given moment and be ready to play and help your team,” Trubisky said.

Trubisky credited part of his success to Sanchez.

”On and off the field, in the film room, (he’s) always making me better, constantly in my ear and being aware of the situation and totally honed into the game and to the task at hand,” Trubisky said.

Trubisky spent the week getting very few play repetitions in practice with starters, and sometimes ran the scout team.

When he arrived in Chicago, Trubisky felt like a bit of an outsider, as any new player might. That’s no longer the case.

”Yeah, it’s probably 180 (degrees),” Trubisky said. ”You just come in here as a stranger and now you feel like one of the guys and you’re really a part of this team that’s slowly becoming a close family.”

It’s been this way with Chicago fans, as well. All the No. 10 jerseys being worn at Soldier Field in preseason made this evident.

”Yeah, I’ve seen them,” Trubisky said. ”It feels pretty cool.”

NOTES

Guard Kyle Long (ankle) and linebacker Pernell McPhee (knee) go into Sunday’s game as questionable on the injury report after practicing Friday on a limited basis. … Wide receiver Markus Wheaton (finger) is questionable, but downplayed his chances of playing Sunday because he has just begun to catch passes after surgery on his pinky finger. … Cornerback Prince Amukamara (ankle) missed practice all week and is doubtful after suffering an injury early in the third preseason game. If unable to play, Amukamara will be replaced by Kyle Fuller. … Running back Ka’Deem Carey and quarterback Connor Shaw were waived from injured reserve.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers tight end Martellus Bennett plans to give his older brother, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, a hug when he sees him this weekend.

Recent events off the field make the high-profile season opener Sunday between Green Bay and Seattle seem trivial by comparison.

Martellus Bennett, who went to high school in Taylor, Texas, has been working to raise money and supplies for residents of flood-ravaged parts of that state. And this week, Michael Bennett released a statement alleging racially motivated excessive force by the Las Vegas police.

“Sometimes, a hug is the best thing you can give,” Martellus Bennett said as his voice started cracking. He talks to his brother several times a week.

“Two seconds this way, two seconds that way, the whole thing is different,” he added. “So for me, I’ll just be happy to see my brother.”

Once the game kicks off, the Bennett brothers probably won’t have to face each other on the field. But the matchup between Seattle’s tough-as-nails defense and Green Bay’s potent offense should be intriguing.

The Seahawks have added tackle Sheldon Richardson in a trade from the New York Jets to a star-studded defense that also has All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner, safety Earl Thomas and cornerback Richard Sherman.

Bennett is making his debut for the Packers, the latest inviting target for two-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The game could be much more competitive than the teams’ last meeting in December, when Thomas missed the 38-10 loss to Green Bay in December because of a broken leg.

“You remember the score? Because I don’t,” defensive end Cliff Avril said. “I just think watching the film you’ve got to make the corrections, understand what worked for them, and you’ve got to understand they might try and do that again.”

Other notes and things to watch ahead of Sunday’s game:

EARL IS BACK: Thomas appears to be fully recovered from the injury that sidelined him late last season. The free safety is such a key cog in Seattle because of an ability to cover so much ground in the defensive backfield. The 66-yard touchdown pass that Packers receiver Davante Adams had last year against Seattle might not have occurred if Thomas was on the field.

“Absolutely, that’s a big difference,” Packers wideout Jordy Nelson said. “He’s smart the way he can read things. The ground that he can cover makes a big difference for what they do in the back end.”

READING RODGERS: Few quarterbacks are better than Rodgers at sensing pressure in the pocket. Throw in the solid protection Rodgers receives from his starting offensive line, along with his knack for maneuvering out of trouble, and the Seahawks will be hard-pressed to get to the quarterback, even with all their talent on defense.

“He might even laugh at you after he throws a bomb after you miss a sack. He’s definitely pretty calm back there. Those are the guys you get frustrated with,” Avril said.

SPLITTING CARRIES: Seattle would like to see Thomas Rawls be the primary ball carrier and Eddie Lacy as a complement. But Rawls is still trying to get fully healthy after being slowed late in the preseason by a high-ankle injury, meaning Lacy could be the No. 1 back in his return to Green Bay. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said he would be fine with that scenario and said Lacy can handle 20 to 25 carries in a game.

“He’s had a great run with us getting to this point. He’s done everything we have asked of him, for weeks and weeks now,” Carroll said.

REPLACING LACY: Taking Lacy’s place in the Packers’ backfield is Ty Montgomery, the converted receiver going into his first full season as a running back. The running game got off to a slow start in the preseason, but picked up toward the end of August. The Packers also like the potential Montgomery’s rookie backups, Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones, showed in the preseason.

“Ty Montgomery is our starting running back, so his development is over. It’s time to go win games,” coach Mike McCarthy said.

NATIONAL ANTHEM: Michael Bennett has been a leader of the national anthem protests started by former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Asked if he would sit for the anthem before this week’s game, Martellus Bennett said, “Not at this point. I’m just processing everything. Me, I like to speak through my art. My words and things like that.”

Retiring at the end of the season, the sport’s most popular driver is one of several racers whose only hope for getting into the 10-race playoffs that begin next weekend is by winning Saturday night at Richmond Raceway.

But even Earnhardt seems to realize the likelihood of his 27th career victory – and fourth on the 0.75-mile oval – isn’t high. It has been 62 races since his last victory, at Phoenix in November 2015, and he said Friday after practice that he has what feels like ”a sixth- to 12th-place car.”

He added: ”If we could come out of here with a win, it would be quite the surprise, not only for all you guys, but us included.”

Earnhardt’s laid-back attitude contrasts greatly with those of other drivers in his same shoes.

Joey Logano, for example, won the Cup race here in April, but then became the first driver to have a race ”encumbered,” NASCAR parlance for being allowed to keep the victory, but without the playoff points or the automatic berth in the postseason because of an infraction discovered after the race.

He has struggled ever since.

”We are in a do-or-die situation,” Logano said. ”Anytime you can win a race in that situation, there is no better feeling than that. Also returning here after our win in the spring and obviously the drama that followed, it would be very nice to be able to get back in victory lane and prove a point. I don’t see any reason why we can’t.”

Logano, who was second to Jimmie Johnson in the final standings last season, also likes the way his team is approaching the challenge.

”This is a time that shows your true character,” he said. ”You can be either down on yourself and be beat before you show up to the race track or show up here ready to go and have the right attitude and confidence that we are going to win. That is where the team feels like they are at. I am proud I am with a team like that.”

Other drivers needing to win to qualify for the playoffs include Clint Bowyer and rookies Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez. The three non-winners ahead of them, and thus most vulnerable to being knocked out of the postseason by a first-time winner, are rookie Chase Elliott, Jamie McMuray and 2003 series champion Matt Kenseth.

”Really I’m still thinking about trying to get that win,” Kenseth said when asked how much attention he or his team will pay to where Elliott and McMurray are running in the race. ”Yeah, I mean, we want to get in, but if you win, you’re in for sure, so I don’t think you’re going to pay much attention. Maybe at the end of the race you pay a little bit of attention who is leading, where those two guys are, but I think we just run our own race.”

Jones expects to do the same, though he’s confident there will be anxiety before the green flag.

”I’ve honestly felt just really locked in all week. I’ve felt like I’ve just been really excited to get here and get on track and get qualifying done and get the race going,” he said. ”… I’m sure once the race rolls around here tomorrow night the nerves will be high and we’ll be itching to go and get things out of the way.”

Jones’ team has been among the most consistent in recent weeks, finishing in the top five in the last three races and in the top 10 in each of the last five.

He’d had just one top-five in the first 22 races of the year.

”You know, we just need to keep running the way we’ve been running, and that win is going to come,” he said.

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More AP racing: http://racing.ap.org

HOUSTON (AP) The first thing J.J. Watt brought back to his adopted hometown after Hurricane Harvey was $28 million in contributions.

But when the Houston Texans play their NFL opener in NRG Stadium, he and his teammates hope to deliver one of those iconic sports moments that live on after the flood waters have receded. Like other American communities laid low by tragedy, the return of games can provide one small important step on the road to recovery.

Watt says Houston players are going to do what they can to put smiles on fans’ faces. That’s what happened when the 2006 New Orleans Saints gave fans a temporary respite from rebuilding the city, when 9-11 first responders cheered for the 2001 Yankees and when football returned after the Virginia Tech shooting.

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) Josh Doctson has heard the question for more than a year, everyone wanting to know when the Washington Redskins’ 2016 first-round draft pick would be able to contribute.

Well, the answer could be this weekend.

A sore Achilles tendon ruined Doctson’s rookie season and a hamstring injury limited him during training camp this summer. But after a full week of practice, the second-year wide receiver said he will play in the season opener when the Redskins host the Philadelphia Eagles.

”I’m just trying to maintain so I can be ready for Sunday,” said a soft-spoken Doctson, who avoided reporters for weeks when he was injured and only relented Wednesday for a brief interview.

Last year’s health woes took a mental toll on the former TCU star as he appeared in just two games and practiced rarely. Doctson visited one specialist after another, never got an answer about what caused his persistent Achilles tendon soreness and was placed on injured reserve Oct. 21 as only months of rest seemed to have a positive effect.

Now Washington is about to find out just what they have in Doctson.

At 6-foot-2, 206 pounds, he showed flashes of brilliance during offseason workouts and training camp practices, drawing praise from teammates for his route running, his strong hands and 40-inch vertical leap that lets him beat defenders even when covered well.

”We just need him out there for him to be able to show what he can do and really make a difference for our team and for our offense,” Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins said. ”I’m excited for that – just like I’m sure the fan base is – to see what he’s got in the tank.”

Save for a 57-yard catch against Dallas in Week 2 last season, Doctson hasn’t proven anything yet. And Washington doesn’t have the luxury of giving him a learning curve in 2017 after veteran receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon left via free agency.

It was the first time in NFL history a team has lost two 1,000-yard receivers in the same offseason and puts immediate pressure on Doctson to stay healthy and produce. Asked about the Redskins’ receivers, Philadelphia safety Malcolm Jenkins mentioned free agent acquisition Terrelle Pryor, tight end Jordan Reed and slot receiver Jamison Crowder.

”The jury is still out,” Redskins coach Jay Gruden said.

Doctson missed the preseason opener with a hamstring injury and was held out of the third and fourth exhibition games with hamstring and groin tightness. His entire preseason consisted of 18 snaps and one catch in an Aug. 19 game vs. Green Bay, which scrounged up ugly memories of the loneliness and isolation of his rookie year.

Teammates who have been through long injury recoveries sensed Doctson’s trepidation. Redskins running back Chris Thompson broke his back and tore the ACL in his left knee in college at Florida State and tore the labrum in his left shoulder as a rookie with Washington in 2013 but has since recovered to play in 29 of the past 32 games.

”Maybe at certain times this year early on he was feeling good,” Thompson said. ”But you still don’t forget about it. You’re still nervous even though you know everything is fixed. Josh has worked for a long time, and he’s not thinking about being hurt anymore and we’ve been able to see the type of player he is.”

Crowder is questionable with a hip injury, and if he doesn’t play Sunday it could open up more playing time for Doctson along with Pryor, Ryan Grant and Brian Quick.

”I’m just excited,” Doctson said. ”But you can’t make it bigger than it is.”

NOTES: Gruden said Grant would start if Crowder doesn’t play against the Eagles. … Along with Crowder, C Spencer Long (knee) and LB Ryan Anderson (neck stinger) are questionable.

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New York City FC will look to extend its five-game unbeaten streak when it hosts the Portland Timbers on Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

NYCFC (15-7-5) is 4-0-1 in its last five games after knocking off Sporting Kansas City 1-0 in the 84th minute on Wednesday. New York City FC is unbeaten in 10 consecutive home league games (8-0-2) and are approaching the franchise regular season-best mark of 11 games (9-0-2), set between June 18, 2016, and April 1, 2017.

Saturday’s match features the top two goal scorers in the league. NYCFC’s David Villa owns 19 goals while Portland’s Diego Valeri comes in with 16 strikes.

NYCFC trails Eastern Division-leading Toronto FC by six points (56-50) for the best record in MLS.

“Were honestly not too focused on the Supporters Shield,” NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson told MLS.com. “I think we’re taking every game as it comes. If we take care of business and do what we have to do for the next seven games, we’ll put ourselves in a really good position come the end of the year.”

The Timbers (11-9-8) are enjoying a three-game run (2-0-1) and are in a battle for supremacy in the Western Conference. Only five points separate FC Dallas (37), who is in sixth place, from the leader, the Seattle Sounders (42). Portland is just one point back from the Sounders.

The Timbers haven’t played since a 1-1 draw with Seattle on August 27th.

“We’re starting to hit our stride a little bit,” Portland coach Caleb Porter told reporters after the Seattle match. “We’re closing out games, we’re defending better and we’ve always been a good attacking team, all year. So, I like the balance of the team and I like the mentality.”

NYCFC leads MLS with 62 yellow cards this year.

Portland’s Sebastian Blanco is second in MLS with 51 fouls conceded.

Two clubs struggling to hold on to slim playoff hopes square off Saturday night as Minnesota United FC hosts the Philadelphia Union at TCF Bank Stadium. Both clubs are one notch above the bottom spot in their respective conference tables.

Minnesota (7-14-4, 25 points) is just three points ahead of bottom-dweller Colorado in the Western Conference, while Philadelphia (8-12-7, 31 points) is tied with Orlando City, three points ahead of DC United in the Eastern Conference.

Minnesota is coming off the first road win in the club’s MLS history, a 2-1 defeat of the Chicago Fire. Rookie forward Abu Danladi played a big role in the win, moving up from the midfield to the forward spot to fill in for injured striker Christian Ramirez, who is likely to miss this week’s match as well. Danladi scored both Loons’ goals.

Duluth-born midfielder Ethan Finlay will make his first home match for Minnesota United. Finlay played at TCF Bank Stadium with Columbus Crew SC earlier in the season in a match Crew SC won 1-0. Finlay already found success with his new club, notching a goal and two assists in his first two matches.

The Loons have been respectable at home, going 6-6-2 in 14 matches. That bodes well against the Union, who are just 1-8-4 on the road this season.

Minnesota head coach Adrian Heath believes his club is starting to jell.

“I just think that it’s a time thing,” he said. “I’ve said this on numerous occasions this season: putting so many players and pieces together in a very short period of time, they’re getting to know each other a little bit more.

“I just think we’re better now than we were at the beginning of the season. No disrespect, but I think we’ve got a better group than we had at the beginning of the season. And I think that’s shown in performances and results.”

Philadelphia hopes that past success against expansion clubs will continue. In the first meeting between the Union and a new expansion side, the Union holds an all-time 3-1-2 record, including a 3-0-1 stretch in the last four meetings.

“It’s more about us, defending well and defending as a team,” Philadelphia goalkeeper Andre Blake said.

Philadelphia will be without Alejandro Bedoya, who will serve a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation, and Joshua Yaro, who is out with a red card suspension.

In their absence, the Union may look to rookie Jack Elliott. The fourth-round pick from West Virginia logged 1,992 minutes this season, the most by any Union defender and third-most by a Philadelphia outfield player. Elliott recorded a goal or an assist in two of his last three matches.

PITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Penguins have hired former star Kevin Stevens as a special assignment scout.

The 52-year-old Stevens was a three-time All-Star during his 15-year career with five teams, including eight with the Penguins. Stevens helped Pittsburgh to consecutive Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992. His 17 goals during the 1991 playoffs remain a franchise record.

Stevens will be based in Boston and will scout amateurs and college free agents for Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford.

Stevens was sentenced to probation and fined $10,000 in May after pleading guilty to a federal drug charge.

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Hurricane Harvey delayed the head coaching debut of Major Applewhite at the University of Houston.

Now, while the massive cleanup continues at home, the Cougars open their season Saturday night at Arizona.

The Cougars canceled their season opener at UTSA last weekend as the city of Houston and surrounding areas faced catastrophic flooding.

“I felt like if we’re going to play this game, we’re not doing what’s right,” Applewhite said at the time. “We tell these kids all the time that we’re a family. You don’t do what’s right and the kids say, `Coach, what about your family or my family?'”

This week, Applewhite quickly emphasized to his players, many of whom had to deal with damage to their families’ homes, that it was time to get back to football.

“You don’t move on, but you have to compartmentalize,” he said. “That’s one thing we kept talking about last week. We have to compartmentalize what is and what we have to do. That’s a great lesson for us to learn.”

As of Friday, Applewhite hadn’t announced whether Kyle Postma or Kyle Allen would start at quarterback. Postma was the backup to Greg Ward and played considerably in the Cougars’ past two successful seasons. Allen is a former Texas A&M starter and big-time high school recruit who sat out last season as a redshirt.

The coaching change at Houston made it difficult for the Wildcats to prepare for Saturday night’s game.

“We don’t know exactly what they’re going to do because it is their first game with a new staff,” Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said. “There’s a lot of unsure things in our minds about that.”

The Wildcats (1-0) opened their season last Saturday with a 62-24 rout of FCS school Northern Arizona.

Arizona rolled up 595 yards against the Lumberjacks, but this will be the first true test of Rodriguez’s young team.

Here are some things to consider when the Cougars face the Wildcats.

ALLEN’S CONNECTION: Allen has a strong Arizona connection. After a standout career at Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, he was one of the most highly sought prep players in the country in 2013. He chose Texas A&M over a host of offers that included Alabama, Notre Dame and, yes, even Arizona.

He threw for 3,532 yards and 33 touchdowns with 14 interceptions in two seasons with the Aggies but announced in January 2016 that he would transfer to Houston.

AFFECTED COUGARS: Applewhite said there were 10 to 15 players who were directly affected by the damage inflicted by Harvey. But the overall impact hit the whole team.

“It’s affected all of them to some extent because of teammates, even ones that don’t live in Houston or have family in Houston,” Applewhite said, “They still are housing teammates who have lost apartments or homes.”

It was an abrupt test of Applewhite’s leadership, too.

“There are a lot of things that come up in a head coach’s career,” Rodriguez said. “It kind of came up early in Major’s head-coaching career. But it seems like they’ve done a great job of not only staying focused on what they need to do but also helping the community, which certainly needs it.”

RUNNING WILDCATS: Arizona rushed for 505 yards against Northern Arizona and spread the wealth around. No one topped 100 yards.

YOUNG ARIZONA: The Wildcats will send one of the youngest teams in a Power 5 conference into Saturday night’s game.

Forty-eight players on the Arizona roster are in their first or second year in the program.

The Wildcats played 23 freshmen against Northern Arizona, including 13 true freshmen. Three true freshmen started on defense.

HELPING OUT: The University of Arizona filled two equipment trucks with donated goods to help with relief in Houston.

The university said nearly 70,000 pounds of relief goods filled the two big trucks. The school said Friday that while it could not accept more donations, people were urged to contribute through the Red Cross.

The trucks are to depart after Saturday night’s game.

LOS ANGELES (AP) Although nearly a full decade has passed, Stanford’s victory over Southern California in 2007 still seems downright preposterous.

The 0-3 Cardinal entered the Coliseum as 41-point underdogs and ended the Trojans’ 35-game home winning streak with one of the most incredible upsets in college football history, 24-23. Stanford has largely controlled the century-long series between California’s private school powers ever since, winning eight of the last 11 meetings.

”I like to call that game the beginning of our program,” said Stanford coach David Shaw, who was Jim Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator when backup quarte